With the 45-Day Appointment Window Open, the Bipartisan Group Calls the Vacancy a Once-in-a-Generation Chance to Give the State's Largest Minority Community a Seat in The Executive Branch

TRENTON, NJ – October 8, 2026 –  Latina Civic Action, New Jersey's only bipartisan statewide organization dedicated to building political power for Latinas and their families at the state and federal levels, today called on Governor Mikie Sherrill to appoint a Latina as New Jersey's next lieutenant governor.

The vacancy follows the September 25 resignation of Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell, after an independent investigation found multiple serious ethical violations. Under the state constitution, Governor Sherrill has 45 days to name a successor, a deadline that falls on approximately November 9, and the appointment does not require legislative confirmation. The decision rests with her alone, and Latina Civic Action believes it should reflect the diversity of the state she serves.

“Governor Sherrill has a rare opportunity to make history,” said the Latina Civic Action’s executive board. "Latinos are the largest minority group in New Jersey and generate roughly $158 billion in economic output in the Garden State. Yet despite that contribution, and despite systemic barriers and discrimination, our state has never had a Latina lieutenant governor. Latinos nationwide are facing a hostile climate. Governor Sherrill can set a different tone right here at home by choosing a leader who reflects the people she serves.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Latinos represent 24% of New Jersey’s population, underscoring the importance of their voices in shaping state government and public policy.

They are also a major economic force. New Jersey’s Latino economy generates approximately $158 billion in gross domestic product, part of a national Latino economic output that has reached $4.4 trillion. Measured on its own, that figure would rank as the world’s fourth-largest economy.

However, Latino families continue to face systemic barriers and discrimination. Many struggle with underfunded schools, unequal opportunity, and rising housing costs, and many now live with the fear and disruption of aggressive immigration enforcement in their neighborhoods and against their own families. As New Jersey's Latino community grows, it deserves a voice at the highest levels of state government, a partner who can work alongside the Governor to confront these challenges. Governor Sherrill has the power to push back on the national climate of hostility toward Latinos by appointing a leader committed to quality education, civil rights and equal opportunity, and equitable housing for all New Jersey residents, especially those most at risk.

Latina Civic Action recommends that the Governor consider highly qualified Latina leaders, including Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Annette Quijano (D-20), a legislator who has represented the 20th District since 2008; Dr. Patricia Campos-Medina, Executive Director of the Worker Institute at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, a policy expert on economic and workplace rights and U.S. trade relations, and a former candidate for U.S. Senate in New Jersey; and Arlene Quiñones Perez, an equity partner at DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, a labor and employment attorney, and former general counsel to the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters.

The call for Governor Sherrill to appoint a  Latina is also gaining national attention. National Latino civil rights and political organizations, including UnidosUS Action Fund and Latino Victory, have made Latino representation in New Jersey a matter of national significance. Latino Victory, a national organization dedicated to strengthening Latino political representation, has publicly urged Governor Sherrill to seize this historic opportunity and appoint a Latino or Latina to the state’s executive leadership.

About Latina Civic Action

Latina Civic Action advocates for the rights of Latinas to have a seat at the table in government and politics so that the community can have a voice in enacting policies that encourage economic opportunity, equity, and inclusion across all areas of society. Their goal is to directly engage voters and educate them to vote for the issues and candidates that advance their mission of empowering Latinas. For more information or to support our mission, visit www.latinacivicaction.com.