Photo: New Jersey Office of Attorney General
Shirley Emehelu has been sworn in as New Jersey's lieutenant governor, becoming the first immigrant to hold the position, according to 6abc.
Emehelu, who was born in Nigeria, was sworn in Monday (November 9) by New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner following her appointment by Gov. Mikie Sherrill. She will also continue serving as the state's secretary of state.
Her appointment marks another historic milestone for New Jersey, as Sherrill and Emehelu become the first two women to simultaneously serve as the state’s governor and lieutenant governor, NJ.com reported.
Emehelu succeeds former Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell, who resigned in September following an investigation into alleged violations of state workplace policies, according to the New Jersey Monitor.
Emehelu moved to the United States from Nigeria when she was 3 years old, according to WHYY.
Before joining Sherrill's administration, she spent nine years as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, where she handled financial fraud cases, according to the governor's office.
She also served as New Jersey's executive assistant attorney general from 2022 to 2024 and held positions as acting state comptroller and acting secretary of state.
Sherrill, who has known Emehelu for more than a decade, praised her commitment to public service.
"She's spent her career standing up for New Jersey families, and I know she'll bring that same dedication and integrity to her new role as Lieutenant Governor," Sherrill wrote in an Instagram post announcing the appointment.
Emehelu's appointment comes amid a historic period for Black political representation following the 2026 midterm elections, when Black candidates secured landmark victories across the country, including Keisha Lance Bottoms becoming the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history and Juliana Stratton becoming the fifth Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
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