EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the latest edition of a weekly newsletter on the beginning of Gov. Mikie Sherrill's tenure and the often-stormy politics surrounding her. You can subscribe here.
In Jersey politics, Labor Day weekend typically marks one final rest before campaign season kicks into high gear. This year, it brought maybe the biggest controversy so far of Gov. Mikie Sherrill's rookie administration.
Last Friday, news broke that the Democrat's second-in-command, Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell, was under an internal investigation over allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women, as well as potential ethics violations. The New Jersey Globe reported it first, revealing that Sherrill's administration hired an outside, high-powered law firm to conduct the review. A pair of Democratic sources outside the administration confirmed the probe to me. Business news website BINJE reported it's been going on since late spring.
The governor's office has yet to confirm or deny even the existence of an investigation. Sherrill released a statement Tuesday that didn't mention Caldwell by name or detail any of the accusations, saying only she treats reports of inappropriate conduct "extremely seriously" and would "take any appropriate action" if evidence calls for it. She also said she'd respect the privacy of anyone involved to protect victims. Sherrill made similarly broad remarks when speaking to reporters Wednesday at a public appearance, vowing to "act according to the best interest of the people of New Jersey in anything we do."
But Jersey's already gossip-heavy political sphere has been filled the last five days with swirling speculation, Republicans calling for Caldwell to resign and for Sherrill to answer questions, names of possible replacements circulating, and a slow drip of new details from media reports citing anonymous sources and leaked documents.
A sharp debate over transparency has quickly emerged in Trenton, over whether Sherrill should say more — or anything, really — about the reported months-long inquiry or stay silent to avoid compromising it and anyone wrapped up in it.
The unusual episode has also raised questions in Trenton about the political ramifications for Sherrill's brand — a former Navy pilot, federal prosecutor, and congresswoman who became the state's second female governor, promising to fight the status quo and run an open government, all while being positioned as a potential candidate for higher office.
"I think she's in a minefield here," former state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, a veteran Democrat and Sherrill supporter, told me.
Members of both parties agree the Sherrill administration was right to launch an investigation, and Republicans give points for choosing Christopher Porrino, the former state attorney general under Republican former Gov. Chris Christie, to run it.
Still, many Republicans and some Democratic leaders wonder why Sherrill hasn't informed residents about what's happening (or not happening) with her handpicked No. 2, at least for clarity's sake since reports surfaced last week, and especially because Caldwell is one of Jersey's four statewide elected officials.
They also marvel at how Sherrill's team has kept this quiet even among top lawmakers and insiders who are usually privy to serious information but are now frustrated and confused as they learn developments through news stories.
On the other end, I've heard from a few Dems and experts who say Sherrill is likely staying mum for legitimate legal reasons, to safeguard herself, possible victims, and even Caldwell until investigators can produce their findings. Supporters say doing otherwise, especially when it comes to substantiating sourced press reports, sets a bad precedent.
It remains unclear when the probe will be over. One Dem operative told me there could be a report soon. The New York Times reported Wednesday it may be released in the coming days.
That same Times story revealed the issue started in May, just a few months after Sherrill and Caldwell were sworn in together. A person wrote an anonymous letter to state officials saying Caldwell, who is single, brought "uninvited female guests" to an event and accusing him of handing out business cards to women he was hoping to date.
Sherrill's office declined to comment.
Caldwell, 66, pushed back strongly in his own letter to the state's ethics officer in May, as reported Wednesday by BINJE. He called the allegations "inaccurate, misleading and completely false" and suggested that his being "the first single Black man to serve at this level in government" may be behind them.
Caldwell said one of the women at that event was his daughter. The Times spoke to another woman who said she has not "made one penny" from knowing Caldwell and they do not have a romantic relationship.
Sherrill tapped the outside firm in June, according to a report by News 12.
Caldwell, a Methodist pastor and former Centenary University president who was little known to the public when Sherrill chose him as her running mate last year, has not publicly addressed the investigation. But the Globe reported Thursday that Caldwell is being advised by another former state attorney general, Peter Harvey. That means there's possibly a brewing legal battle here at the very top of state government.
"This is a nightmare when your lieutenant governor has a lawyer," Republican state Sen. Jon Bramnick said. "If the investigation finds nothing, then it goes away. If it's a fight, it's a fight no politician wants."
In addition to serving as lieutenant governor, Caldwell is Jersey's secretary of state, a position that includes overseeing the state's elections.
Ironically, this all comes just weeks after another, elections-related controversy: Sherrill's revelation that thousands of noncitizens were registered to vote in Jersey a few years ago under her Democratic predecessor, Phil Murphy.
Sherrill held a news conference about that. "When we find a problem, we don't hide it, deny it, or invent conspiracies," she said. "We investigate it, we fix it, and we tell the public."
One Dem operative noted Sherrill had cover to be forthcoming about the voting matter because she could blame Murphy. The source said staying tight-lipped about Caldwell is Sherrill's "biggest public misstep" so far, leaving not just the public but allies feeling as if they're in the dark, unsure of what to believe or say. "It's crazy. Because they're not talking to anyone — county (party) chairs, legislators — people are just running wild."
Some say the silence is in line with how Sherrill's team sometimes keeps a distance from the state's political establishment.
Democratic state Sen. John Burzichelli said he's "heard from no one with any kind of update or briefing" but would "like to know a little more because I'm getting questions from constituents," though he admitted it's "not a groundswell of questions."
"I don't know in the era of the Donald Trump chaos if people are desensitized to these kinds of things," Burzichelli said.
"I hope it's a lot of misunderstanding to be cleared up."
Weinberg, the Democratic former lawmaker — who also created a committee on the pervasiveness of sexual misconduct in Jersey politics — said it's "very hard to think anything" about this because "there's too much secrecy surrounding it now."
"I think the longer these questions are not answered, the more the rumors fly, the harder it is to get the facts out there," said Weinberg, who also ran unsuccessfully in 2009 as the first Democratic lieutenant governor candidate in state history.
"I think she will make the right decision. I just hope she makes it quickly. I think she's in a tough spot. ... But if there's been an ongoing investigation, it's time for some transparency."
Some have pointed to how Christie conducted a two-hour news conference when the Bridgegate scandal broke. Weinberg was the co-chair of the legislative committee that investigated that controversy. The other chair, Democratic former state Assemblyman John Wisniewski, told me "immediate disclosure is always better than an after-the-fact explanation."
"It's good having Chris Porrino lead an investigation," Wisniewski said of Sherrill. "But that almost begs the question: If it is that serious, then there needs to be a little bit more said upfront."
The week's news also revived memories in political circles of a scandal that rocked another Democratic Jersey freshman governor: how Murphy's administration in its first year faced legislative hearings after a campaign volunteer, Katie Brennan, said a campaign staffer raped her and Murphy's team ignored her pleas. Some Dems noted Murphy also held a news conference after the story appeared and that Porrino ultimately helped represent Murphy's administration, though others emphasize the circumstances surrounding the Caldwell probe are different.
Only a handful of Democrats commented publicly this week. Those who did defended Sherrill's approach.
"It's not fair to convict somebody or find somebody guilty without doing the investigation," said former state Senate President Steve Sweeney, one of the Democrats who lost to Sherrill in last year's gubernatorial primary. "Let the process play out. I think the governor is handling this correctly."
State Sen. Britnee Timberlake praised Sherrill in a statement for "doing what any good leader should do in these unfortunate circumstances: ensuring an independent, unbiased investigation occurs, while maintaining impartiality and privacy until the process is complete."
Katie Brennan, now a Democrat state Assemblywoman, released her own statement saying the allegations are "serious" and "deserve a thorough and independent investigation." Brennan also said she'll re-introduce stalled legislation to "set clear standards" for how complaints are handled. "Governor Sherrill moved quickly here, and I'm glad she did, but survivors shouldn't have to hope that the people in charge will do the right thing."
Passaic County Democratic Party Chairman John Currie, a former state party leader, said he's waiting for the investigation's results to comment.
"I want to give the governor an opportunity," Currie told me. "The former attorney general is credible, and I know they'll do a thorough investigation."
Matt Hale, a political science professor at Seton Hall University and a Democratic councilman in Highland Park, said Sherrill is "absolutely right to say nothing until she fully knows the details of the accusations."
"But when she knows those details, she needs to act quickly and decisively," Hale added.
The matter has also given a new attack to Republicans, the state's minority party, as they try to regain power. They're demanding Sherrill explain what and when she initially learned of the allegations.
"It's a mess," said GOP strategist Chris Russell, the spokesman for Sherrill's Republican opponent last year, Jack Ciattarelli. "For the governor to have a press conference on the voter-roll scandal (this summer) while standing next to a guy who's under investigation says all you need to know."
Two top Republicans — state party chairwoman Christine Hanlon and state Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco — also demanded that Caldwell resign. Hanlon called this "the worst handling of a crisis in modern history." Bucco said Caldwell's dual roles carry "enormous responsibility, and these serious allegations have undermined confidence in both offices."
Other GOP leaders say it's wrong for Caldwell to take over as acting governor while the investigation is ongoing — something he did recently when Sherrill traveled out of state to campaign for congressional candidates and something that could happen again with more campaign trips on the horizon. Some Republicans say Sherrill should temporarily halt traveling.
"This is no longer simply about the governor leaving New Jersey to campaign for politicians in other states or build her national political profile," Assemblyman Alex Sauickie said. "This is now about who is actually in charge of our state when she leaves."
Sherrill would not say Wednesday whether she's taken any steps to curb Caldwell's duties, saying only she'll continue to follow state laws and "be accountable to the people and make sure they understand any moves we decide to make."
Because he's elected, Caldwell could be removed only through resignation, death, or impeachment by the state Legislature.
On Thursday, Sherrill was asked to respond to Caldwell suggesting the investigation is being used to discredit him. She alluded to President Donald Trump.
"We see from Washington a government where the president of the United States uses the government to target individuals based on partisan politics," Sherrill said. "That is not something I would ever do. I think the people of New Jersey know that."
Democrats have chided Republicans who urge Caldwell's ousting. Timberlake, the state senator, said they've turned this into "a political weapon" when so few facts are known and their "outrage is especially hollow" because of misconduct accusations against Trump.
Bramnick, the Republican lawmaker who often presses for bipartisanship and civility in today's political climate, asked members of his party: "How about waiting and seeing at least what the allegations are? To me, it's almost sickening."
Even so, this hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning out Democratic names of potential Caldwell successors. Timberlake is one I've heard mentioned. Others: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, state Sens. Vin Gopal, Troy Singleton, and Benjie Wimberly, Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, and even former New York Giants star Tiki Barber (who was floated as a possible Sherrill running mate last year).
Also Thursday, the Legislature's highest-ranking Republicans — Bucco and Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio — sent a letter to Democratic leaders calling for a special bipartisan legislative committee to examine the allegations and how Sherrill has handled the issue. "This is an opportunity for the Legislature, Democrats and Republicans alike, to come together in exercising its constitutional oversight responsibilities," they wrote.
Sherrill spokesman Sean Higgins had a terse reaction: "Governor Sherrill answers to the people of New Jersey — not Trenton Republicans who are silent on the corruption and incompetence of Donald Trump."
As for what effect this all could have on Sherrill's still-forming standing with the public? Another Dem insider said Sherrill can rehabilitate if the full report shows she and her team handled this with "seriousness." But the source noted this isn't happening in a "vacuum," given that it comes on the heels of both the explosiveness of the noncitizen voting controversy and how she angered progressives by sending in the State Police at Delaney Hall protests this spring.
"I think that's why you're hearing Democrats who are very nervous about it," the insider said, noting how the entire Dem-controlled Legislature in on the ballot next year.
Another party strategist put it this way: "She needs to change the narrative to something more positive."
And what does this do to her prospects as a vice presidential contender, cabinet pick, or even a presidential candidate? One GOP operative warned this could follow Sherrill as she hits the campaign trail during this fall's midterms, with national reporters asking questions about how it happened. "I think it starts to take the bloom off the rose."
A Dem strategist said this is "making the rounds in D.C., no question. And there's no one else to blame on this one."
Dem operative Kevin Hagan said he doesn't believe this will harm Sherrill's future because she's addressing the issue by having it investigated. "Historically, government has been accused of turning a blind eye to these situations. Gov. Sherrill has done the opposite."
Said one Dem insider: "Hell, Chris Christie ran for president after Bridgegate, and this isn't even in the same stratosphere."
Dan Cassino, a pollster at Fairleigh Dickinson University, said what happens to Sherrill depends on the final report and her response to it.
"If the report is bad, and she stands behind him, it'll hurt," Cassino said. "If the report is bad, and she cuts him loose, the damage is likely to be minimal."
"Sherrill is really aided by the fact that most people in New Jersey are not only unaware of who the LG is, but perhaps of the fact that we have one at all," he added.
Both Cassino and Hale, the Seton Hall professor, agree the biggest threat for Sherrill is the distraction this causes.
"It makes talking about affordability, fixing Trenton, education, or anything people really care about, almost impossible," Hale said.
MIDTERMS RAMP UP: We're now less than eight weeks from America's midterm elections, with control of Congress hanging in the balance. And Jersey's biggest House race, the battle between Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. and Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett — one of the most-watched elections in the nation — got even more dramatic recently. As U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson visited a Morris County golf course to campaign with Kean, New York Times reporter Tracey Tully said she was blocked from entering the event, despite other reporters being let in. Police were later called when she was in her car. Meanwhile, Kean and Bennett released dueling ads. Kean's first spot features his father, former Gov. Tom Kean, who says he "couldn't be prouder" of his son. Bennett this week released her own first ad, saying she'll "always fight for you," while donning a flight suit to promote her Navy background. (Yes, you do recall that Sherrill, another Dem ex-Navy helicopter pilot, had similar ads last year.) One party operative told me Democrats "smell blood in the water" around Kean. A Republican strategist wondered if Kean turning to his father for help is a warning sign about his polling. "Does it show he's vulnerable with older voters?" Another GOP insider said President Donald Trump's administration "isn't doing him any favors."
SENATE RACE DRAMA: Jersey's little-watched U.S. Senate race also just got a little heated. Justin Murphy, the Republican running a long-shot campaign against Dem Sen. Cory Booker, sparked controversy over saying Islam "doesn't seem to be able to cohabitate with other religions." The former Tabernacle deputy mayor was responding to a question about Islam during a forum in Morris County. Booker called the comments "bigotry, plan and simple" and said "this kind of hate in cancerous. Murphy told Politico he was speaking specifically about "radical Islam," stressing "I do not believe all Muslims are evil people." The question isn't as much as whether this will hurt Murphy as much as whether it will hamper down-ballot Republicans in a diverse state.
BYE TO BURLINGTON: In big business news, Burlington Stores — named for its longtime Jersey home — announced they're relocating their headquarters to Philadelphia after 50 years here. It's the latest big company to relocate from the Garden State, and it fueled Republicans' ongoing claim that businesses are fleeing because of Democrats' policies. On top of that, a report showed Jersey lost 25,6000 jobs in July — the worst of any month since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even one Dem insider voiced worry to me that eight months into Sherrill's tenure, "we are hemorrhaging companies. There doesn't seem to be an adult in the room addressing this." Quipped one Republican operative: "It's the Seinfeld administration — an administration about nothing." Another Dem strategist said the exodus "hurts," but Sherrill has been working to cut red tape and make the state more appealing to businesses.
CREDIT UPGRADE: Sherrill also celebrated better news last week, when Kroll Bond Rating Agency upgraded the state's credit rating to AA-. Her office said it's the first time a Jersey governor received a credit rating increase during their first year in office and noted it's the state's highest rating from KBRA since the agency began rating Jersey in 2015. "In just seven months, we've taken on the tough challenges and the status quo, and that work is being recognized," Sherrill said. Added one Dem insider: "That's a big thing."
SHERRILL VS. TRUMP: No, Sherrill and Trump still aren't friends. The Trump administration recently denied Jersey's appeal for $84.4 million in federal disaster aid for February's deadly blizzard. And Sherrill went off: "Once again, Donald Trump is using the federal government to punish those he sees as his political enemies, and everyday New Jerseyans are paying the price. Natural disasters don't care about political parties." Politico reported that FEMA approved the initial request by Jersey and other blue states, but the White House rejected it. The Trump administration denied it was political. Meanwhile, a federal court dismissed a lawsuit from Trump's administration challenging an order Sherrill signed banning ICE agents from using state property as a staging area. An appeal is expected.
25th ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11: Friday marked 25 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — a day that continues to live in infamy and sadness, especially in our area. Sherrill honored the anniversary Thursday night during an event at the Empty Sky Memorial in Jersey City. "There are only a few moments in life when you can feel a distinct shift in the very future. And in that moment … I knew the path forward would be very different than the one we had been on that very morning," she said. Sherrill also attended the commemoration ceremony at Ground Zero in Manhattan on Friday morning.
WHITMAN ON SEPT. 11: I also recently interviewed former Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman, then head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for an upcoming newsletter and asked her what she remembers about 9/11. "It's always a difficult time this time of year," she said, adding she "lost some very good friends." She also recalled her son was in Building 7, the third one to fall, but survived. Notably, Whitman was one of the officials who faced backlash for telling New Yorkers the air was safe to breathe at Ground Zero in the aftermath — something she later apologized for. The issue returned this week when New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released air quality records showing health officials were still finding evidence of asbestos half a mile away, 10 months later. In my interview, conducted before the reports became public, I asked Whitman whether she regrets her comments. "That was the information I had at the time. Every morning, I would call up to New York to the scientists and be on the phone with them and say, 'What can I say? What is real, what's actual, what can I say about air quality? What's right?' And they would tell me ... on the pile, you needed to wear respirators. But outside of that envelope of the pile, they did not see from what they were looking at and how, what they were analyzing and how they were doing it, they did not see long term health impacts from air quality. ... Obviously, I think we're learning a lot."
WANNA HEAR MORE? I spoke about recent Jersey political news on NJ PBS's "Reporters Roundtable" and on two episodes of David Cruz's "Presscore."
✍️ NJ.com columnist Tom Martello wrote that Gov. Mikie Sherrill should follow through on promises of transparency with the investigation into Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell.
✍️ NorthJersey.com columnist Charles Stile wrote that Jersey progressives are dethroning establishment Democrats as President Donald Trump's shadow looms over the state. He also wrote that voters might care this time that Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is avoiding news media.
✍️ North Jersey.com opinion editor Alex Nussbaum wrote that Gov. Tom Kean's 9/11 legacy offers a lesson in bipartisanship that feels rare in today's politics.
🔥 NJ.com's latest Friendly Fire examines Trump's wars, his $1 coin, and how elections collide ahead of a tense midterm season.
👔 Democratic U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez survived his dad's downfall and won in landslides. (NJ.com)
💸 Public workers and taxpayers in Jersey got hit with another massive health premium increase in one of the state's biggest lingering issues. (NJ.com)
⚡ The Sherrill administration may empty this piggy bank to cut electric bills in Jersey — but you'll pay later, critics warn. (NJ.com)
📱 Jersey's statewide school cellphone ban just kicked in — here's what parents and students need to know. (NJ.com)
🎙️ U.S. House candidates are skipping debates across the state as election season heats up this fall. (New Jersey Monitor)
💰 Democratic districts cashed in big as Jersey lawmakers drafted this year's state budget bills, analysis shows. (NJ Spotlight News)
⚖️ Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's lawsuit against federal officials was tossed by a judge — but there's still one path to revive it. (NJ.com)
🚗 Democratic state Senate President Nick Scutari wants Sherrill to delay independent contractor rules until 2027 to give businesses more time. (New Jersey Globe)
🎰 Jersey is asking the U.S.Supreme Court to decide if prediction markets must follow state gambling laws like Kalshi. (NJ.com)
🚨 A Jersey woman shares her harrowing journey through ICE detention. (New Jersey Monitor)
💼 Sherrill signed a law designed to allow more Garden State employees to own the companies they work for. (NJ.com)
🏳️⚧️ Sherrill also signed a law that bans blocking access to abortion and transgender healthcare in Jersey. (NJ.com)
☀️ Renters can now slash energy bills with plug-in solar panels in Jersey. (NJ.com)
🗳️ Jersey Republicans are banking on their midterm convention for a November boost as campaigns heat up. (New Jersey Globe)
Lt. Gov. Caldwell sent letter denying allegations he pursued women amid ongoing investigationSep. 11, 2026, 4:22 p.m.
Who is Dale Caldwell? Here's what to know about N.J.'s Lt. Gov. under investigationSep. 11, 2026, 4:22 p.m.
A few ex-athletes are running for U.S. House seats this year: former NFL kicker Jay Feely in Arizona and former Yankees star Mark Teixeira in Texas. Should the Republicans win, they'd join a long list of sports figures elected to Congress.
Two past lawmakers represented Jersey: former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, a Democrat who was a Hall of Fame basketball player for Princeton University and the New York Knicks, and former U.S. Rep. Jon Runyan, a Republican who was a Pro Bowl offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles.
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