Gov. Mikie Sherrill signs executive orders aimed at making New Jersey more affordable

Mikie Sherrill and Dale Caldwell were sworn in Tuesday as governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, during a ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

During her address, Sherrill, the first Democratic woman to hold the state's highest office, announced her first two executive orders, each aimed at fulfilling campaign promises.

"I want you to know that I will be fighting for you"  

Her first executive order freezes electricity rate hikes to provide relief to residents. She said the state will use existing funds to offset bill costs that are set for June.

"I want you to know that I will be fighting for you and I hope, New Jersey, you'll remember me when you open up your electric bill and it hasn't gone up by 20%," Sherrill said.

The Board of Public Utilities approved two rate hikes last year and will look at prices in the summer.

"This executive order will survive as long as it's not challenged. When it's challenged, we'll see how it goes," said Micah Rasmussen, of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University. "For these early days, I don't think she's going to encounter a lot of opposition because we are not raising our rates right now."

Sherrill's second order declared a state of emergency to create and expand multiple programs to develop new power generation, "because more power means lower costs," she said.

The order will bring new solar and battery storage generation and identify permit reforms so projects can be created faster, Sherrill said. The state will also require electric utilities to report on requests from data centers, and a task force will be made to build new nuclear power.

"This is just the beginning. We are going to take on the affordability crisis, and we are going to shake up the status quo," she said.

"We see a president illegally usurping power"

Sherrill, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and four-term congresswoman, also took President Trump to task over Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions and tariffs.

"This election proved that the people of New Jersey recognize the parallels -- that we see a president illegally usurping power. He has constitutionally enacted a tariff regime to make billions for himself and his family, while everyone else sees their costs go higher," Sherrill said.

Mr. Trump has said tariffs are necessary to protect American jobs and to reduce the trade deficit.

Alongside Sherrill on the stage at NJPAC were other former governors, including Republicans Christine Todd Whitman and Chris Christie, and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, all of whom are not fans of the president.

"She put it all in her speech. It's game time and I am really grateful she's our leader now," Booker said of Sherrill.

Sherrill elected governor after heated campaign

Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli by a double-digit margin on Election Day, a result driven by high voter turnout.

Sherrill won 56.9% of the vote compared to Ciattarelli's 42.5% after a heated race that turned personal at times. 

Affordability was the center of her campaign. She previously said she plans to address high property taxes. 

"It's really breaking the back of too many families. So while this has been a high-cost state, and I've always been working hard to get rid of the state and local tax deduction cap, I will increase that first-time home buyers' program so people can get a foot in the door," Sherrill said.  

She is the second woman to lead New Jersey, and replaces Gov. Phil Murphy, who was term-limited after winning reelection in 2021.