New Jersey Governor — Mikie Sherrill
Mikie Sherrill is a former Navy helicopter pilot, federal prosecutor, and four-term congresswoman who became New Jersey's 57th governor in January 2026. She is the first Democratic female governor of New Jersey and the first female military veteran to serve as governor of any U.S. state. Her campaign centered on affordability, child safety, and government accountability.
Declare a State of Emergency on Utility Costs and freeze electricity rate hikes on day one
Status: completed
On January 20, 2026, Sherrill signed Executive Order No. 1 freezing utility rate hikes and Executive Order No. 2 declaring a State of Emergency on Energy Costs, using state authority to offset upcoming rate increases set for June and directing the Board of Public Utilities to freeze rate hikes. She also signed orders to expand solar and battery storage generation and establish a Nuclear Task Force.
Make housing more affordable through transit-oriented development and support for the ANCHOR and Stay NJ property tax relief programs
Status: in-progress
In her first budget proposal (March 2026), Sherrill proposed record property tax relief of $4.2 billion including $2.3 billion for ANCHOR, $350 million for Senior Freeze, and $700 million for Stay NJ. However, she also proposed capping Stay NJ income eligibility at $250,000 (down from $500,000) and reducing maximum benefits from $6,500 to $4,000, which drew criticism from senior advocacy groups. The budget remains under legislative review.
Expand renewable energy (solar, battery storage, nuclear) to lower electricity costs
Status: in-progress
Sherrill signed Executive Order No. 2 on January 20 directing the Board of Public Utilities to seek new solar and battery storage solicitations within 45 days and establishing a Nuclear Task Force. On April 8, 2026, she signed legislation (S3870/A4528) lifting a 40-year de facto moratorium on new nuclear power plants by removing outdated permitting barriers. Environmental groups praised the clean energy focus, though some critics raised concerns about waste storage for nuclear facilities.
Protect children's safety online and address mental health in schools
Status: in-progress
Sherrill signed Executive Order No. 5 on January 20 establishing the Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness in the Department of Health. Her first budget proposal included $125,000 for this office and $500,000 for a new Social Media Research Center at a higher education institution. However, her proposed overhaul of school mental health services drew criticism from education advocates, and implementation is still underway.
Improve government efficiency and reduce red tape for business permitting
Status: in-progress
Sherrill signed Executive Order No. 4 establishing the Office of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to drive efficiency and accountability across state government, with the goal of streamlining permitting and reducing regulatory burdens. On January 23, she signed Executive Order No. 7 instituting a 90-day pause on new regulations to review proposed rules in the pipeline. Business groups including NJBIA supported these moves.
Modernize the school funding formula and increase education funding
Status: in-progress
Sherrill's first budget proposal includes a record $12.4 billion for K-12 schools (largest in state history), $370 million more than the prior year, and a record $1.4 billion for preschool education. She stated her intention to work with the legislature to modernize the school funding formula, originally written in 2008. However, the final budget remains under legislative negotiation.
