Mikie Sherrill to be sworn in as New Jersey's 57th governor

Mikie Sherrill, a four-term congresswoman and former Navy helicopter pilot, is set to be inaugurated in Newark as New Jersey's 57th governor, succeeding Phil Murphy.

Mikie Sherrill, a four-term congresswoman and former Navy helicopter pilot, is set to be inaugurated as New Jersey's 57th governor on Tuesday. She framed her November victory in part as a response to President Donald Trump's policies and won after campaigning on issues including utility costs. At 54, she will be the second woman to lead the state and succeeds two-term Democrat Phil Murphy. The inauguration will be held in Newark, rather than the traditional ceremony sites in Trenton. Key facts: - The swearing-in is scheduled to take place in Newark, the state's largest city. - Sherrill is 54 and served four terms in Congress before winning the governorship; she is a former Navy helicopter pilot. - Her campaign blamed rising costs in part on tariffs and she pledged as an early action to order a freeze on utility rate increases. - She succeeds Phil Murphy, whose two terms included measures such as higher taxes on incomes over $1 million, a higher minimum wage, expanded early childhood education, and full funding of the state workers' pension. - The outgoing administration is leaving a larger state budget and an unfunded promise to continue a property tax relief program, raising the prospect of budgetary pressure if revenues dip. - Sherrill will take office with a Democratic-controlled Legislature, and this marks the first time in more than six decades that the same major party has won three straight gubernatorial elections in New Jersey. Summary: Sherrill's inauguration represents a transition to new state leadership with a Democratic governor working alongside a Democratic Legislature. She takes office having highlighted immediate campaign priorities and inheriting an expanded state budget and an unfunded property tax relief commitment. Undetermined at this time.