Composite story
New Jersey lieutenant governor Dale Caldwell resigns after ethics report
Trenton, New JerseyPublished 26 Sep 2026
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Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Gov. Mikie Sherrill accepted Dale Caldwell's resignation after an outside report found sexual harassment and ethics violations. Caldwell and his lawyer dispute the findings.
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned Friday after Gov. Mikie Sherrill told him to step down. An outside investigation found he sexually harassed a staffer, brought guests to ticketed events without paying, and sought a promotion for a state employee he was dating. Caldwell and attorney Thomas Calcagni dispute the report. Sherrill named acting comptroller Shirley Emehelu acting secretary of state and has 45 days to choose a new lieutenant governor.
Disputed facts
None yet.
Disputed opinions
None yet.
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigns, Gov. Mikie Sherrill says
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
Dale Caldwell's attorney said a state trooper did not hear the exchange.
Thomas Calcagni said counsel is fully exploring legal remedies to ensure a true, balanced, and unbiased record.
Republicans are calling for a legislative investigation with subpoena power.
Republicans said Mikie Sherrill left the state more than a dozen times, which put Dale Caldwell in charge.
Republicans allege a whistleblower from Dale Caldwell's previous job contacted the campaign with similar accusations.
Mikie Sherrill said that was raised to the law firm.
Micah Rasmussen said Mikie Sherrill put Dale Caldwell under investigation.
Mikie Sherrill says she is going to take her time to pick the right candidate.
Opinion
State Senator Declan O'Scanlon said it was careless to leave the state in the hands of someone under a serious active investigation.
Mikie Sherrill said she thinks Dale Caldwell resigned because he cared about New Jersey's agenda amid federal attacks on affordability and voting rights.
Mikie Sherrill said her administration is committed to doing what is right, not what is politically expedient.
Declan O'Scanlon suggested the accusation was going to be swept under the rug and go away.
Political analyst Micah Rasmussen of Rider University said Mikie Sherrill acted decisively.
Micah Rasmussen said Mikie Sherrill can say that when there is a problem, she acts on it.
WATCH: Former Dem Lt Gov reveals why he resigned after sexual harassment probe rocked state
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
Dale Caldwell said he resigned to keep any distraction away from the Mikie Sherrill administration.
Dale Caldwell said on camera he is not resigning because of that ridiculous report.
Dale Caldwell’s departure came just one day after the Democratic governor.
Dale Caldwell said he was only providing specifics through his attorney for now.
Dale Caldwell cited his history as a university president and at the Deloitte consulting firm.
Dale Caldwell encouraged people to read the report for themselves.
Investigators found Dale Caldwell’s denial that he made the remark was not credible.
Dale Caldwell said he is going to continue to work as a private citizen.
Dale Caldwell said he is freed up to do a lot more things.
Dale Caldwell said he is looking forward to supporting the administration and supporting folks.
Dale Caldwell said he texted Mikie Sherrill on Friday, called her a wonderful person who means well, and gave no further specifics.
Opinion
Dale Caldwell called the state's investigative report specious, ridiculous, and poorly done.
Fox News described the ethics probe as having forced Dale Caldwell from office.
Dale Caldwell said he thinks the report was poorly done.
Dale Caldwell said this is one of those things that happens.
New Jersey lieutenant governor resigns after release of damaging ethics report
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
Mikie Sherrill defended having Dale Caldwell step in as acting governor several times after the investigation began.
Mikie Sherrill said Dale Caldwell’s own statements were included in the report and that he was fully involved.
Thomas Calcagni did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, a Democrat, applauded Mikie Sherrill for her commitment to hold public officials to the highest standards.
Craig Coughlin said the work of governing must be uninterrupted and serving New Jerseyans must remain a top priority.
The lieutenant governor’s duties include filling in for the governor when she leaves the state.
Mikie Sherrill said this is a new area for New Jersey, so the administration will get legal opinions and follow the process.
Mikie Sherrill said the administration will make sure with its chief counsel that it is following the rules.
Opinion
Thomas Calcagni said the process was unnecessarily protracted, one-sided, and lacked the due process owed every citizen.
Mikie Sherrill said demanding that Dale Caldwell step down is part of dismantling a culture that ignores victims.
Mikie Sherrill said there has been a culture in Trenton, probably since the birth of the nation, to sweep this under the rug.
Craig Coughlin said that, following an independent investigation, Dale Caldwell was right to resign.
Caldwell resigns as NJ lieutenant governor in wake of ethics report
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
Republicans have called for Dale Caldwell to leave office to ensure the election’s integrity.
In July, Mikie Sherrill announced that thousands of foreign nationals had been registered to vote via software at motor vehicle offices under Phil Murphy.
President Donald Trump has declared, without evidence, that the elections will be stolen by Democrats.
Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat on the job for nine months, issued the statement Thursday night.
The Republican National Committee on Tuesday sued Dale Caldwell and other election officials over information linked to roughly 6,000 registrations.
At least 5,100 names have been deleted from voter rolls.
Mikie Sherrill’s administration hired another law firm to investigate how the registrations happened, and that report is pending.
Donald Trump and his Republican allies hailed that as proof that elections will be rigged against him.
The report says Dale Caldwell, who is single, almost immediately pursued women in search of what he called a first lady.
Dale Caldwell took office in January, quoting Scripture and the Rev.
Dale Caldwell was told on May 22 that he was under internal investigation.
Dale Caldwell said their words would guide his work.
The inquiry began after officials on May 14 received an anonymous complaint about Dale Caldwell’s behavior.
Dale Caldwell said leaders were stepping in at a time of deep national division and growing anxiety.
Opinion
NJ Spotlight described the Democratic Party as an increasing threat to Republican control of Congress.
N.J. Lt. Gov. Caldwell resigns after investigation found he sexually harassed woman
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
Mikie Sherrill said she will take appropriate action quickly if the evidence warrants.
Mikie Sherrill said that with the November election approaching, it is vitally important that elections run smoothly and residents have confidence in the officials overseeing them.
Mikie Sherrill said she has full faith that Shirley and the Department of State team will make sure eligible New Jerseyans can make their voices heard this November.
Mikie Sherrill vowed to move swiftly and thoughtfully in selecting a new lieutenant governor who will represent the administration with honor and integrity.
Opinion
Mikie Sherrill said elected officials commit to serve the people, not their own self-interest.