NJ Lt. Gov. Tahisha L. Way
TRENTNON – NJ Gov. Phil Murphy appointed Secretary of State Tahesha L. Way as lieutenant governor to replace former Lt. Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver who died on Aug. 1. She was sworn-in Friday at the State House after two decades of public service.
“Tahesha has been with our administration from the very beginning, and her work over the past five and a half years leading the Department of State has grown New Jersey’s tourism economy, uplifted small businesses, and strengthened our election system. Tahesha is the perfect candidate to join me in finishing the job that Sheila and I started,” Murphy said.
Way said Oliver was a close friend and mentor.
“To have been selected as her successor as New Jersey’s next Lieutenant Governor is one of the greatest honors of my career. I come to this position as the child of two public servants who molded me into the person I am today. Having experience at different levels of government has showed me the important role that those of us in public office can play in improving the lives of families across our state,” Way said.
In addition to fulfilling her duties as lieutenant governor, Way will continue to serve as secretary of state.
During her tenure as secretary of state, Way became the first Black person and first secretary of state from New Jersey to lead the National Association of Secretaries of State, helping to defend democracy at both the state and national level. She was an administrative law judge and elected to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2006, where she later served as the freeholder director in 2009. She also served as a council member for the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council.
She is a graduate of Brown University, holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law at Charlottesville. She and her husband Charles have four children and reside in Wayne.
