NJ’s unusual standoff: Sherrill wants Caldwell out. He may not have to go, he is also the secretary of state snd oversees our elections here
Gov. Mikie Sherrill has demanded Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resign after an independent investigation found sexual harassment and ethics violations, “serious, repeated violations of state policy,” including conduct that continued after warnings and training
Caldwell’s attorney called the probe one-sided and said he was denied a real chance to answer anonymous allegations. Caldwell denies wrongdoing and is not quietly stepping aside.
That’s the constitutional problem
Caldwell is an **elected** lieutenant governor. Sherrill cannot simply fire him from that office. She *can* squeeze the job: staff, budget, and day-to-day duties. He could remain LG in title while being sidelined in practice
It gets messier because he is also **Secretary of State** and oversees the Division of Elections, weeks before the midterms. Whether a governor can remove a SoS “for cause” when that person is also an elected LG is largely untested.
The other path is impeachment: 41 Assembly votes to impeach, then 27 Senate votes to convict and remove
For now he remains both LG and SoS. Sherrill has told him to leave. He’s signaling a fight. New Jersey is in rare constitutional territory
nj1015.com/caldwell-sherrill…)