Mikie Sherrill sworn in as New Jersey governor amid promises to fight for affordability and stand up to Trump

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Former Navy pilot, federal prosecutor and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill on Tuesday took the oath of office at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark as the 57th governor of New Jersey.

Sherrill is the second woman to hold the position. Christie Todd Whitman was the first woman to be elected governor, in 1993.

Sherrill told WHYY News she would freeze utility rates, protect children online, increase government accountability and stand up to President Donald Trump on a number of issues. During a fiery inauguration speech, she compared Trump’s behavior with the tyranny of King George III of England during the American Revolution.

“We see a president illegally usurping power, unconstitutionally enacting a tariff regime to make billions for himself and his family, while everyone else sees their costs go higher,” she said.

Sherrill suggested that when New Jerseyans went to the polls in November, they recognized what was happening. “Here we demand that people in public service actually serve the public instead of buying themselves planes and cars and extorting money,” she said.

She said the Declaration of Independence makes clear that human beings have universal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. “Not because of who their parents were, but because every human being is endowed with these rights by their creator, not by a king,” she said.

Sherrill said New Jersey is offering the nation hope, and she pledged to stand up and fight for all residents of the state to have the chance to improve their lives.

“I will be damned if in this state at this time we cry any silent tears,” she said. “As so many doors are shut [on the federal level] on too many of our friends and neighbors, too many children and seniors who don’t have enough to eat.”

She stressed strong action is needed. “I’m going to spend every minute trying to make New Jersey more affordable and open doors to opportunity, because that’s our history here.”

Too often, the promises of politicians to open doors of opportunity have been empty. A mother of four, the governor said too many people are working hard but still falling behind. “So let me tell you plainly what my administration stands for: lowering costs, taking care of your kids, making government accountable to the people,” she said.

Sherrill said New Jersey residents have repeatedly told her there’s an affordability crisis, costs must come down and they don’t want a 10-year study to address the problem.

She then announced she was signing an executive order, right on stage, declaring a state of emergency on utility costs. She said the order gives the Board of Public Utilities the authority to pause new utility requests for additional rate increases. “I will freeze rate hikes to finally provide families with real relief on their energy bills,” she said.

Sherrill then signed a second executive order, directing the BPU to open solicitations to expand development of in-state power, including adding the latest generation of high-tech solar batteries and “to modernize gas and nuclear generation so we can lower utility costs over the long term,” she said.

“I promise as your governor: If it’s keeping you up at night, it’s going to be keeping me up at night. We’re going to shake up the status quo. It won’t be easy, and hard choices have to be made to drive down costs as the federal government slashes funding and slams doors to opportunity,” she said. “But as I learned in the Navy, the only easy day was yesterday.”

She said that while all New Jerseyans have worries, they refuse to give in to despair.

“Luckily we don’t need easy here in New Jersey. We have grit. We’re tough. And when you hurt our families, we’re going to fight,” she said.

She said lawmakers share a responsibility to make people’s lives better. “At the heart of it, we serve with commitment to make the world better,” she said. “Protecting liberty and ensuring that power is not placed in the hands of a few, but rather that the universal rights of all New Jerseyans are protected.”

During the inauguration ceremony, Sherrill received a 19-cannon salute by the New Jersey National Guard, in a park across the street from the NJPAC. The salute is a standard military honor given to high-ranking officials, such as governors or vice presidents.

Sherrill succeeds Phil Murphy after she defied expectations and scored a decisive victory against Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the November general election.

While she was on the campaign trail, Sherrill held several events in Newark. Holding her inauguration in New Jersey’s largest city broke with the tradition of holding inauguration ceremonies in Trenton.

During a visit to Camden on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Sherrill promised to support South Jersey and said she plans to divert resources to the city to honor the civil rights leader.

Sherrill’s inaugural ball will take place at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford.