Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill meets with Gov. Phil Murphy, announces transition team
TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill spoke with reporters and met with outgoing Governor Phil Murphy the day after her decisive win.
She introduced her transition team, led by Lt. Governor Elect Dale Caldwell and strategist Kellie Doucette.
She also laid out her initial priorities in office, including freezing utility rates, implementing her online safety agenda for kids and joining the tariff lawsuit against the Trump administration.
"What I saw was that our message was resonating," said Sherrill on Wednesday. "I think these working-class communities, whether it's suburbs in Gloucester or Black communities or Latino communities, depend so much on good governance."
Sherrill met with Murphy at the governor's office in Trenton on Wednesday morning.
He'll leave office in January after serving the maximum two terms.
The congresswoman defeated Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli by double digits in Tuesday's election.
"It is my hope that Mikie Sherrill has heard us in terms of what we need to do to make New Jersey that place where everybody can feel once again achieve their American dream," said Ciattarelli during his concession speech Tuesday night.
President Donald Trump said Republican losses in this and other races were because of the ongoing government shutdown and because he himself wasn't on the ballot.
Murphy said Sherrill's win is a reflection of the current political climate.
"What's going on in Washington is a factor for sure as well. Everything from shutdown to SNAP to gateway to just the feel of the country right now," said Murphy.
Sherrill will have to resign her seat in Congress to assume the governor's office.
There will be a special election for that seat representing the 11th district, likely sometime next year.
