Katrina Hauser 
On November 4th, 2025, Democrat Mikie Sherrill won her bid for the governorship of New Jersey, beating Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli by collecting 56.9% of the votes. As outgoing Governor Phil Murphy wraps up his time in office, the Sherrill administration is eagerly awaiting inauguration day. Ms. Sherrill will be New Jersey’s 57th governor and its second female governor. Read on to find out what to expect from this historic event, and how you can take part in the special day.
About Mikie Sherrill
Mikie Sherrill was born in Alexandria, Virginia, and grew up on the East Coast. After graduating from the Naval Academy, Sherrill spent nine years serving the U.S. Navy, piloting helicopters on missions through the Middle East. She obtained a law degree from Georgetown University and, in 2015, began working as an assistant United States attorney for the District of New Jersey.
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In 2018, Sherrill won a seat representing New Jersey’s 11th congressional district. She won reelection in subsequent elections and announced her run for governor in November 2024. Some main pillars of her platform included maintaining affordability, expanding education and mental health services, and making the state government more transparent and efficient.
Her ideas resonated with many New Jerseyans, who cast nearly 1.9 million votes for her to win the gubernatorial election this past November. Now, as the state waits for its 57th governor to take office, we’re letting you know what to expect from the big day in January.
Inauguration Day: What to Expect
Sherrill plans to start off her inauguration day by making history: unlike most New Jersey governors who have come before her, Sherrill has elected to be sworn into office in Newark, and not the state capital of Trenton. Instead, the ceremony will be held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on January 20th, 2026.
“It is a high honor for our city to be selected to host the inauguration of Mikie Sherrill,” said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who Sherrill beat in the gubernatorial primaries, to CBS News. “As New Jersey’s largest city, Newark is an appropriate setting for such a momentous occasion, bringing to bear its history of immigration, diversity, and shared democratic values.”
Many governors in the past have put their own spins on the events of inauguration day, but they typically all took place in Trenton. The one exception comes from New Jersey’s only other female governor, Republican Christine Todd Whitman, who took the oath from the NJPAC in 1994 while the War Memorial was undergoing renovations. She chose the same location after winning reelection in 1998.
In a statement announcing the ceremony’s location, Sherrill said, “We will start my administration the same way we won this race, by listening and taking action for the people I serve. I couldn’t be more honored to be sworn in as your next governor and begin my administration in the Gateway City – and as governor, I will continue showing up for Newark, Trenton, and all of New Jersey’s communities.”
The incoming governor is sworn in by the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. The Chief Justice is Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, who is a Passaic native. The Oath of Office is prescribed by the New Jersey State Constitution. The Governor will then sign the oath. All New Jersey Governors from the first swearing-in of William Paterson in 1790 have signed the oath, and several have reused the same document, creating truly one-of-a-kind historical documents.
After the swearing-in, the new Governor will become Commander-in-Chief of the New Jersey National Guard; the Head of the Executive Branch, overseeing all state departments and agencies; the Holder of appointment power for cabinet positions, judges, and prosecutors; and the Chief Executive with authority to sign or veto legislation.
How to Take Part in Inauguration Day
January 20th, 2026, will bring New Jerseyans together as history is made when the first female Democratic governor takes office. For those looking to take part in the inauguration day festivities, here are a few tips on how to celebrate.
Inauguration ceremonies usually begin in the late morning on the scheduled day. Governor Murphy, for example, began reading his inaugural address around 11:00 AM on the day of his 2022 ceremony. Though proceedings are likely to be open to the public, it is recommended to arrive early if you’d like a chance to get close to the action.
Many events are ticketed and open to the public, but the tickets are extremely limited. More information will be made available as the date gets closer, but typically, the tickets are available through your representative’s office. Plus, celebrating democracy doesn’t have to be boring.
Many bars and restaurants throughout the Newark area and the rest of the state may be offering specialized deals or sales on the historic day. Pay attention to the social media pages of your favorite establishments, or maybe even encourage them to make a viewing event out of the ceremony, which will be available on all local broadcast news channels.
The Governor-elect also announced Free Museum Day on Saturday, January 17th in celebration of the inauguration along with Lieutenant Governor-elect Dale Caldwell. Sherrill shared the 12 museums that will be participating in free museum admission via Instagram post on Thursday evening. Per New Jersey Globe, Dale Caldwell will be visiting the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton and the Battleship New Jersey Museum in Camden to promote Free and Discounted Museum Day. Read more about the participating museums here.
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