This history will serve Caldwell well in his new job – Secretary of State in the administration of Mickey Sherrill.
Overseeing the election process is one of the duties of the New Jersey secretary of state, and the incoming governor emphasized it when announcing Caldwell’s appointment at a downtown Delta restaurant on Monday morning.
Sherrill said the Trump administration’s intimidation tactics put everyone’s ability to vote safely at risk. Federal election monitors were on the ground in Passaic County last month, but encountered no problems.
Still, Governor-elect Sherrill said it is important to prepare for what the future holds, specifically citing partisan comments from U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Hubba. Despite the court’s ruling that his appointment was illegal, Habba remains on that job.
Caldwell won election as Lieutenant Governor on November 4 on Sherrill’s ticket. State law also allows the LG to head a cabinet department.
The Lieutenant Governor serving as Secretary of State is hardly unusual. The state’s first LG, Republican Kim Guadagno, was Secretary of State, as is Taheesha Way, the current LG.
Two other core functions of the office – business development and tourism and culture – were also mentioned by Sherrill.
Caldwell will oversee the state’s Business Action Center, which works to promote the state’s businesses. Sherrill says she would like the office to reduce “red tape” and be more transparent regarding the permit regulatory and approval process.
The coming year – 2026 – promises to be a big tourism year for the state and Caldwell will lead what New Jersey is doing.
2026 is not only the 250th anniversary of the United States, but it’s also a year the state is hosting multiple World Cup matches, including the final. Thousands of fans are expected to attend that event.
Caldwell said his goal is simple: to make sure visiting fans have a safe and memorable experience in the Garden State.
New Jersey Secretary of State is not necessarily a high profile position. It is not as though the office interacts with neighboring Pennsylvania to avoid the outbreak of hostilities.
However, Caldwell has bigger plans.
“You’ll see some really interesting things happening in the secretary of state’s office,” he said.
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