Mikie Sherrill Will Come To Essex County To Be Sworn In As Governor

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — When Mikie Sherrill takes her oath of office as the 57th governor of New Jersey, she will do so in the state’s largest city.

Governor-elect Sherrill and her lieutenant governor running mate, Dale Caldwell, are scheduled to be sworn in Jan. 20. The ceremony will take place at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, her transition team announced Thursday.

Sherrill and Caldwell are each expected to outline their plan to “deliver for New Jerseyans” at the event. More details are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Sherrill emerged victorious in the November general election, heavily outperforming her Republican rival, Jack Ciattarelli, in Essex County.

• See Related: Sherrill Tops Ciattarelli In Her Home County (2025 Election Results)
• See Related: 6 Promises Mikie Sherrill Made As NJ's Next Governor

“I couldn’t be more honored to be sworn-in as your next governor and begin my administration in the Gateway City – and as governor, I will continue showing up for Newark, Trenton and all of New Jersey’s communities,” Sherrill said.

Caldwell said that – as the founding executive director of the Newark Alliance – it’s always exciting to return to the city.

“I will also be forever grateful to the faith community in Newark that helped elect the first pastor to the office of lieutenant governor,” Caldwell said. “It’s an honor to come back to Newark to take my oath and start delivering for New Jersey.”

Sherrill’s first stop outside of Trenton as governor-elect was in Newark, where she visited a local food bank to highlight her opposition to the Trump administration’s cuts to food assistance programs.

A few days before the election, former President Barack Obama attended a “get out the vote” rally in Newark alongside Sherrill.

The governor-elect also saw a campaign endorsement from Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, the second-highest vote getter in the 2025 Democratic primary election.

“It is a high honor for our city to be selected to host the inauguration of Mikie Sherrill,” the mayor said Thursday.

“As New Jersey’s largest city, Newark is an appropriate setting for such a momentous occasion, bringing to bear its history of immigration, diversity and shared democratic values,” Baraka said.

• See Related: Baraka Backs Sherrill In NJ Governor Race
• See Related: NJ Mayor's Strong Showing In Primary Gives Progressives Hope

The inauguration news also got a thumbs-up from another local Democratic official, Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo Jr.

“The governor-elect is just the second woman in the history of our state to be elected governor, and it’s exciting that this momentous occasion will be taking place here,” DiVincenzo said.

• See Related: Sherrill Victory In NJ Inspires Other Women Veterans To Run For Congress
• See Related: Special Election To Replace Mikie Sherrill (Here’s What Happens Next)

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