Assembly Minority Whip Brian Bergen (R-Denville) questioned Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s refusal to discuss specific allegations against Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell, saying the governor should provide more transparency before leaving the state to campaign for Democratic candidates nationwide.
Asked whether he was comfortable with Caldwell serving as acting governor while Sherrill is away, Bergen said he was not.
“No, because I don’t know what to think,” Bergen said. “She doesn’t say anything. I mean, there’s an investigation going on, and that’s it.”
Several Democratic lawmakers today declined to comment when asked about the investigation.
Sherrill has said that complaints involving members of her administration are taken seriously, but she has not addressed the specific allegations against Caldwell. In a September 8 statement, she said any credible report of inappropriate behavior or misconduct should be fully examined and addressed, while adding that the rights and privacy of those involved must be protected.
The New Jersey Globe first reported on September 4 that Caldwell was under investigation over allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women and possible ethics violations. Outside counsel retained by the Sherrill administration is conducting the inquiry.
Bergen said Sherrill’s refusal to provide more information has made it difficult for lawmakers and the public to assess whether Caldwell should continue serving as acting governor.
“If she were trying to lead this state with some transparency, she would at least say what’s going on so we can know what our comfort level should be,” Bergen said.
Caldwell has denied allegations that he used his office to pursue women romantically. In a May 28 letter to the state chief ethics officer, he said he never asked anyone out, “hit on” anyone or pursued anyone romantically while serving as lieutenant governor and secretary of state.
Caldwell has also pushed back forcefully against the allegations. In a text message to a friend obtained by the Globe, he described the matter as “a war with evil.”
“I’m not trying to pre-judge this guy; that’s not my thing,” Bergen said. “But I think that we’re entitled to know the person she’s going to leave as acting governor—what’s going on with the guy.”
Sherrill is expected to spend time outside New Jersey campaigning for Democratic candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Caldwell previously served as acting governor while Sherrill was out of state.
“Should she be out running around the country campaigning for other people? No,” Bergen said. “The answer is no. She should be here running the state.”
“But she’s going to be out there,” he continued, “and we need somebody in charge that we can trust. Can we trust the lieutenant governor right now to operate our state effectively, given what’s going on? I don’t know.”