New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way. Credit: NJ Department of State New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha L. Way. Credit: New Jersey Department of State

Gov. Phil Murphy announced that current Secretary of State and former Administrative Law Judge Tahesha L. Way will succeed the late Sheila Y. Oliver as lieutenant governor.

Way has spent more than two decades in public service and is the first Black person and the first Secretary of State from New Jersey to become president of the National Association of Secretaries of State. Her career accomplishments include serving as an administrative law judge, election to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and as a council member for the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. Way will take on the position of lieutenant governor while continuing to serve as Secretary of State.