New Jersey Lt. Governor Tahesha Way Launches Congressional Bid To Replace Mikie Sherrill

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way has thrown her hat into the ring for a congressional run in the state’s 11th district.

Way – who also serves as the New Jersey secretary of state – has been included for months in talks about who will replace Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Democrat put her stamp on those rumors on Tuesday, officially declaring her candidacy in a competitive race in NJ-11, which spans dozens of towns in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties (see list below).

Way expanded on her qualifications in a campaign statement, highlighting her experience as secretary of state, where she “modernized our voting systems, implemented automatic voter registration, established early voting and expanded vote-by-mail.”

As lieutenant governor, Way said she signed key legislation to support families facing rising utility costs, expand mental health services for college students, strengthen tenant protections and help small businesses grow.

“I’m running for Congress because hardworking New Jerseyans deserve a representative who will fight to lower costs, protect their health care, and push back against the chaos and cruelty coming out of Washington,” said Way, a Wayne resident.

“Families are being crushed by rising costs, MAGA politicians are attacking basic rights, and the Trump administration continues to target our rights and freedoms,” she continued. “People feel like the system is stacked against them – and they’re right.”

“But I know we can fix it if we do the work together,” she added.

Learn more about Way’s campaign platform here.

CANDIDATE UPDATE

There is a growing list of candidates who have announced they are running for Sherrill’s seat, have filed paperwork to run, or are expected to do so shortly.

In addition to Way, the list currently includes:

• Former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski
• Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway
• Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett
• Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill
• Maplewood Committee member Dean Dafis
• Former Barack Obama staffer Cammie Croft
• Morris Township Deputy Mayor Jeff Grayzel
• Chatham Borough Council Member Justin Strickland
• Former Sherrill intern and congressional staffer Marc Chaaban
• Community activist Anna Lee Williams
• Venture capitalist Zach Beecher
• Comedian and attorney J-L Cauvin

ELECTION UPDATE

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has set an election date to replace Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill in Congress.

A special primary election will take place on Feb. 5. A special general election will be held on April 16.

There will be six days of in-person early voting for the special primary election, spanning Jan. 29 through Feb. 3, and nine days of in-person early voting for the special general election spanning April 6 through April 14.

Sherrill’s resignation took effect at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. She was required to turn over the seat as a condition of becoming governor – which will take place on Jan. 20.

• See Related: Special Election To Replace Mikie Sherrill (Here’s What Happens Next)

WHERE IS THE 11TH DISTRICT?

New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District includes the following municipalities:

Essex County – Belleville, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair (part), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, South Orange, West Caldwell

Morris County – Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham, Chatham Township, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Twp (part), Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Rockaway Township, Victory Gardens

Passaic County – Little Falls, Totowa, Wayne (part), Woodland Park

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