Full Breakdown
New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Resigns After Ethics Investigation
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 25 2026, Governor Mikie Sherrill announced that Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell had submitted his resignation, which she accepted that afternoon. The investigation found credible evidence of sexual harassment, improper use of state resources, and attempts to secure a promotion for a romantic partner.
Background & Context
The probe began in May 2026 after the state’s chief ethics officer received an anonymous letter dated May 6 2026 alleging that Caldwell brought uninvited guests to paid events and harassed a female staffer. Caldwell was formally notified of the investigation on May 22 2026 and received ethics training shortly thereafter. Investigators from the law firm Lowenstein Sandler, led by former Attorney General Christopher Porrino, examined the allegations through interviews with 17 witnesses and a review of emails and event records. The report was released on September 24 2026, prompting Sherrill to demand Caldwell’s resignation by the following day.
Data & Statistics
- Report length: 61 pages.
- Tenure: Caldwell had served eight months as lieutenant governor and secretary of state.
- Age: 66.
- Investigators deemed the comment sexually harassing and not credible when Caldwell denied it.
- Ethics violations:
- Ticketed events: Seven instances between February and May 23 2026 where Caldwell brought personal guests without prior approval or payment; ticket costs ranged from $65 to $300.
- Promotion attempt: On May 26 2026, Caldwell used his state email to forward the résumé of a state employee with whom he was in a romantic relationship, without disclosing the relationship. The employee did not receive the promotion.
- Financial reimbursement: Caldwell reimbursed $175 for one event after being instructed to do so.
Official Statements & Responses
She emphasized that “the ethical lapses persisted despite multiple warnings and trainings” and that the resignation was Sherrill also announced that Acting Comptroller Shirley Emehelu would serve as acting secretary of state, overseeing the upcoming midterm elections.
What’s Next
Sherrill has 45 days to appoint a permanent lieutenant governor, as required by the state constitution. In the interim, Shirley Emehelu will act as secretary of state, managing the state’s elections scheduled in 39 days.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I hold everyone in my Administration to the highest ethical standard. We all have a duty to follow our state ethics and harassment policy and our Code of Conduct. Anyone who violates these will be held accountable,” — Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, governor
- “There has been a culture in Trenton, probably since the birth of our nation, to sweep this under the rug,” — Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, governor
- “He submitted his resignation to me this afternoon, which I accepted,” — Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, governor
- “I’m not resigning because of the report,” — Dr. Caldwell, lawyer
- “We can no longer tolerate the culture of silence, sweeping things under the rug or kicking cans down the road,” — Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, governor
- “Once I saw those complaints, once I saw the findings of that investigation, I acted quickly and asked for the resignation of the lieutenant governor,” — Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, governor