<p>Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell (D-NJ) submitted his resignation letter on September 25, 2026, after Governor Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) called for his resignation following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.</p>
<p>Caldwell, who was Sherrill's running mate in the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election, resigned after an ethics report was released, alleging he "engaged in serious, repeated violations of state policy and failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office." The report was made public on September 24, 2026.</p>
<p>While Caldwell has denied the allegations, an investigation conducted by the law firm Lowenstein Sandler, led by former state Attorney General Christopher Porrino, found his denial to lack merit.</p>
<p>The investigation revealed that Caldwell "made a romantic advance" toward a female friend of a staffer. After being rejected, he allegedly told the young female staffer, "You young women are looking for young sperm." The independent investigators concluded that Caldwell's behavior "constituted sexual harassment, and was derogatory or demeaning in reference to the staffer’s sex." Additionally, the report claimed that Caldwell sought a promotion for an employee with whom he had a romantic relationship without disclosing the nature of their relationship.</p>
<p>In response to the report, Sherrill stated, "These violations substantiated in the investigation reflect a pattern of behavior that does not meet the standards of this Administration. The ethical lapses persisted despite multiple warnings and trainings. The substantiated finding of sexual harassment is extremely troubling. I’ve seen firsthand how a hostile culture can undermine everyone’s ability to succeed. It’s insidious and ruptures the trust within an organization."</p>
<p>However, Caldwell's attorneys contested the investigation's legitimacy, describing it as an "unnecessarily protracted and one-sided process that lacked the requisite due process that should be afforded every citizen of this state." Thomas Calcagni, representing Caldwell, stated that his client was not allowed to address all allegations or call witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the circumstances, and that even those who came forward with firsthand accounts were excluded from the process.</p>
<p>Sherrill appointed Caldwell as her running mate in July 2025 and named him as her administration’s secretary of state in December 2025 after winning the November election by a double-digit margin.</p>
<p>With Caldwell's resignation, Sherrill has 45 days to appoint a replacement, but a special election is not required, nor is New Jersey Senate confirmation necessary for her appointee. Since Caldwell also served as secretary of state, overseeing elections, Sherrill will need to fill that position before the November elections as well.</p>
<p>Caldwell held two positions, and Sherrill could appoint two separate individuals to replace him in each role.</p>