Sheila Oliver

Early life and education

Sheila Yvette Oliver was born in Newark, New Jersey on July 14, 1952. Raised in Newark, she graduated from Weequahic High School in 1970.

Oliver graduated cum laude with a B.A. in sociology from Lincoln University in 1974 and was awarded an MSW from Columbia University in community organization, planning and administration in 1976.

On May 6, 2018, Oliver received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Lincoln University.

Early career

Oliver worked in both the public and private sectors. She was the executive director of The Leaguers, Inc., a northern New Jersey non-profit social services organization. Oliver also taught at the college level, serving as an adjunct faculty member at Essex County College and Caldwell University.

Oliver served on the Board of Education of the East Orange School District from 1994 to 2000, and was chosen by her peers to serve as its vice president from 1998 to 1999 and as its president from 1999 to 2000. She served on the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders from District Three for one term from 1996 to 1999, but was defeated for a second term on the board in the June 1999 Democratic primary election. In 1997, Oliver ran for mayor of the City of East Orange, narrowly losing the Democratic primary election to Robert L. Bowser.

New Jersey State Assembly (2004–2018)

As a part of intra-party deal making in 2003, Oliver and incumbent Assemblyman Peter C. Eagler were chosen to be the party-backed candidates in the June 2003 primary election for General Assembly from the 34th district. Incumbent Assemblyman Willis Edwards was dropped from the ticket as a result, and Oliver and Eagler won their Democratic primary.

Prior to her initial run for lieutenant governor, Oliver was re-elected to the Assembly six consecutive times following her first election victory in 2003.

Tenure as Speaker (2010–2014)

On November 23, 2009, Oliver was elected unanimously by Assembly Democrats to become the 169th Speaker of the Assembly. Her election made her the first Black woman to serve as speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, the second woman in New Jersey history to serve as Assembly speaker (the first being Marion West Higgins, who served in 1965), and the second African American to hold the post (the first being S. Howard Woodson, who first held the post in 1974). Nationwide, she became the second African American woman to lead a state legislature (Karen Bass of California is the first).

As Speaker, Oliver backed Governor Chris Christie's reforms to public workers' pensions and benefits. Police and fire unions were furious with the Speaker, claiming that she told them the issue was still under consideration before announcing the bill would be introduced later that same day. Then-Assemblyman Joseph Cryan was unsuccessful in his efforts to convince his fellow Democrats to stage a coup against reappointing Oliver as Speaker. Oliver was elected in 2011 for a second term as Speaker under the terms of a deal made with Senator Nicholas Sacco, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., and South Jersey political boss George Norcross in which she agreed to move legislation forward only with the advance support of 41 Assembly Democrats.

Oliver served in the Assembly on the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, the Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, the Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity, and the Joint Committee on the Public Schools. In November 2013, Assembly Democrats chose Vincent Prieto to succeed Oliver as speaker, which he did in January 2014. In the 2014–2015 Assembly term, Oliver was designated speaker emeritus of the Assembly.

2013 U.S. Senate special election

On June 10, 2013, Oliver formally announced that she would run in the special election for the United States Senate seat which had been previously held by Frank Lautenberg before he died. As a candidate, she advocated for immigration reform and for federal investment in industrial areas. In the August 13 special Democratic primary, Cory Booker prevailed; Oliver came in fourth place out of four candidates, winning four percent of the vote.

Lieutenant governor of New Jersey (2018–2023)

2017 election

In July 2017, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy announced that he had chosen Oliver as his running mate in the 2017 election for governor of New Jersey. Murphy and Oliver defeated the Republican ticket of Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno and Mayor Carlos Rendo of Woodcliff Lake. Murphy announced he would also appoint Oliver to serve as commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, a cabinet position, made under a provision of the New Jersey Constitution that allows the governor to appoint his lieutenant governor to a cabinet post without requiring the approval of the New Jersey Senate.

New Jersey law allows a candidate to run for two elective offices simultaneously, but does not allow one person to hold two offices simultaneously. Oliver, in addition to being elected Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey, also won re-election to her legislative seat in the General Assembly in 2017. Oliver resigned her Assembly seat on January 9, 2018 and was succeeded by Britnee Timberlake.

Tenure and reelection

Oliver was sworn in as lieutenant governor on January 16, 2018. She was the second lieutenant governor in the history of the state. Oliver was also the first black woman to serve as lieutenant governor of New Jersey and the first woman of color elected to statewide office in New Jersey. Oliver served as the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs during her tenure as lieutenant governor.

As commissioner, Oliver focused on policies that supported housing programs and municipal government services, while also providing support to revitalization projects. During her time as acting governor, Oliver signed legislation related to several areas, including aid for caregivers of the elderly and disabled, financial literacy education in schools, wage protections, and restorative juvenile justice.

In 2021, Oliver ran for re-election to the post of lieutenant governor as Murphy's running mate. She debated Diane Allen, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, on October 5, 2021. On November 2, 2021, Murphy and Oliver were re-elected, defeating the Republican ticket of Jack Ciattarelli and Diane Allen by a 51%–48% margin. Prior to her death, Oliver was viewed as a potential candidate to succeed Murphy as governor in the 2025 election.

Personal life and death

Oliver never married and had no children. She was once engaged to be married, but she ended the relationship. In 2019, she said, "'I cannot imagine doing what I've done in my professional career and raising a family'".

On July 28, 2023, Oliver assumed the role of acting governor while Governor Murphy was out of state on vacation in Italy. However, on July 31, she suffered a medical event and was hospitalized at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. Oliver died the following day, August 1, 2023, at age 71. No cause of death was made public.

Following Oliver's death, The New Jersey Monitor reported that her "fragile health" had been "an open secret in New Jersey political circles", but added that she "was private about her struggles".

Tributes

Following Oliver's death, Murphy returned to New Jersey early before ordering flags at state facilities to fly at half-staff for one month, through September 4, as a sign of respect. Murphy's office also announced that Oliver would lie in state in the rotunda of the New Jersey State House and in the Essex County Historic Courthouse in the days preceding her public funeral at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on August 12.

A number of Democratic and Republican politicians paid tribute to Oliver, with Representative Frank Pallone describing her as a "trailblazer in every sense of the word" who "always fought for what was right". In a statement, Governor Murphy said that Oliver was "the ideal partner" to help him lead New Jersey; he added that selecting Oliver as a running mate was the best decision he had ever made.

Oliver was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2025.

Electoral history

New Jersey Governor

New Jersey General Assembly

Democratic Primaries

Notes

References

References

1. Kukla, Barbara J.. (2005). "Defying the Odds: Triumphant Black Women of Newark". Swing City Press.
2. Jung, Taylor. (August 10, 2023). "Celebrating Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, untiring advocate for racial, economic justice".
3. Sobko, Katie. (August 10, 2023). "Hundreds of mourners honor 'trailblazer' Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver at memorial".
4. (May 13, 2014). "Some Distinguished Weequahic Alumni".
5. (March 15, 2018). "Lion – A Lincoln Lion Becomes Lieutenant Governor".
6. Vazquez, Jennifer. (August 1, 2023). "New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver dies a day after being hospitalized for undisclosed medical issue".
7. "Sheila Oliver".
8. (April 23, 1987). "Cult-Arts Associates Schedule May 2 Luncheon". The Montclair Times.
9. (August 1, 2023). "N.J. Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, a pioneering public servant, dies". NJ.com.
10. (June 10, 1999). "Only 473 Vote In Tuesday Primary Election". West Essex Tribune.
11. Wildstein, David. (April 3, 2022). "Robert Bowser, East Orange mayor for four terms, dies at 85".
12. (January 12, 2010). "How Oliver and Cryan got to Trenton".
13. Megerian, Chris. "Assembly Democrats unanimously back Sheila Oliver as next speaker". The Star-Ledger.
14. (August 1, 2023). "New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver dies; Gov. Phil Murphy planning return to U.S.".
15. Hester, Tom, Sr. [http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/steve-sweeney-elected-nj-senate-president-sheila-oliver-named-assembly-speaker "Steve Sweeney elected N.J. Senate president; Sheila Oliver named Assembly speaker"] {{webarchive. link. (March 11, 2012 , NewJerseyNewsroom.com, November 23, 2009. Accessed June 11, 2011. "Oliver will become the first African-American woman and the second woman to serve as Assembly speaker. She will be the second African-American and the second woman to hold the post.... Oliver will be the first woman speaker since Marion West Higgins (R-Bergen) in 1965. She will be the first African-American speaker since the Rev. S. Howard Woodson (D-Mercer) in 1974 and 1975.")
16. Renshaw, Jarrett. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/nj_assembly_speaker_shelia_oli.html "N.J. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver testifies in favor of insurance, pension overhaul"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', June 20, 2011. Accessed February 3, 2018. "Police and fire unions were angered last week when Assembly leaders announced today's hearing while negotiations were still underway.Bill Lavin, president of the state Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association, said union leaders met with Oliver's office on Tuesday afternoon and were told the issue was still under discussion.Hours later, Oliver and Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) announced they would introduce the bill today."
17. Brodesser-Akner, Claude. [http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/07/7_things_to_know_about_sheila_oliver_phil_murphys.html "9 things to know about Phil Murphy's new running mate, Sheila Oliver"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], July 29, 2017. Accessed February 3, 2018. "Backing the 2011 vote on cuts to public worker benefits made her deeply unpopular with many Assembly Democrats, including then Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union), who was rumored to have urged other Democrats to oust her in a coup. The coup never materialized, and Oliver was narrowly reelected to a second term as speaker."
18. Friedman, Matt. (January 5, 2014). "New N.J. Assembly speaker, a former bodybuilder, promises to flex political muscle".
19. Della Santi, Angela via Associated Press. [http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20111211/NEWS/312119986 "NJ Assembly Speaker's role up in the air going forward"], ''The Trentonian'', December 11, 2011. Accessed February 3, 2018. " Sheila Oliver's first term as Assembly speaker was chaotic, culminating in a coup attempt staved off in a backroom deal that retained her as leader of New Jersey's lower house.... To get the votes she needed for a second two-year term as speaker, Oliver is said to have agreed to a demand from 13 dissenters within her party, who want to keep her from posting legislation for a vote unless it has support from 41 Democrats, a majority of the 80-member Assembly."
20. [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=242 Assemblywoman Oliver's legislative web page], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed September 24, 2015.
21. (August 1, 2023). "Sheila Oliver, New Jersey's lieutenant governor and a prominent Black leader, dies at 71".
22. Aron, Michael. (November 7, 2013). "Kean Remains Senate Minority Leader Despite Challenge; Prieto Takes Over as Assembly Speaker".
23. Seidman, Andrew. (May 7, 2014). "Speaker Prieto stakes out territory in N.J. politics".
24. Zernike, Kate. (June 11, 2013). "New Jersey Assembly Speaker Enters Senate Race". The New York Times.
25. (August 6, 2013). "N.J. House Speaker Sheila Oliver: Time for a woman in Washington".
26. (August 22, 2013). "U.S. Senate Special Primary Election Results, August 13, 2013". Secretary of State of New Jersey.
27. Brodesser-Ackner, Claude. (July 25, 2017). "Here's Phil Murphy's pick for a running mate in gov race". NJ.com.
28. New Jersey State Constitution (1947), Article V, Section I, paragraph 4 (as amended, effective January 17, 2006).
29. The four-year term of office is defined by the New Jersey State Constitution (1947), Article V, Section I, paragraph 5 (as amended, effective January 17, 2006).
30. Friedman, Matt. (November 7, 2017). "Murphy defeats Guadagno to become New Jersey's next governor". Politico PRO.
31. Marcus, Samantha. (November 9, 2017). "Murphy makes first cabinet appointment as governor-elect". NJ.com.
32. (November 9, 2017). "Murphy's lieutenant governor will lead Community Affairs".
33. When [[Carlos Rendo]], during their one televised debate, challenged her decision to run for both seats, Oliver had said that she had filed to run for re-election before she was chosen by Murphy as his running mate and would resign from her Assembly seat if she and Murphy were elected.Racioppi, Dustin. [http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/new-jersey/governor/2017/10/16/nj-elections-five-highlights-lt-gov-debate/769142001/ "New Jersey elections: Five highlights from the lieutenant governor debate"], ''[[Journal Sentinel]]'', October 16, 2017. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Rendo questioned whether Oliver wants to be lieutenant governor at all, since she is also on the ballot for another term in the Assembly. Oliver said she petitioned to be on the Assembly ballot before Murphy chose her as a running mate and she "of course" would resign from the Legislature if she and Murphy are elected. She would be constitutionally prohibited from serving in both posts."
34. [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/digest/010918.htm New Jersey Legislative Digest for January 9, 2018], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 31, 2018. "The Members of both Houses of the 218th Legislature were sworn in.... Assemblywoman Sheila Y. Oliver, of the 34th Legislative District, has resigned."
35. Johnson, Brent. [http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/01/nj_assemblys_newest_member_is_sheila_olivers_repla.html "Meet Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver's replacement in the N.J. Assembly"], NJ.com, January 29, 2018. Accessed January 29, 2018.
36. (January 16, 2018). "The Latest: Murphy signs order aimed at equal pay for women".
37. (August 1, 2023). "Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver dies after hospitalization for undisclosed medical issue".
38. "New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, first Black woman to serve as state Assembly speaker, dies at 71". ABC News.
39. "About the Commissioner: Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver". NJ.gov.
40. Biryukov, Nikita. (July 1, 2021). "Oliver officially joins Murphy's re-election ticket".
41. Steele, Allison. (October 6, 2021). "Abortion, women, and white privilege: New Jersey's lt. gov. debate covered plenty of ground".
42. (November 2, 2021). "New Jersey Election Results". The New York Times.
43. Biryukov, Nikita. (November 3, 2021). "Murphy claims win as lead over Ciattarelli grows".
44. Wildstein, David. (February 9, 2023). "In first poll of the 2025 N.J. governor's race, Democratic race is 'wide open' and Ciattarelli is best known Republican".
45. Ramaswamy, Swapna Venugopal. (July 19, 2019). "NJ Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, a beacon for women in politics, is not afraid to take on status quo".
46. (August 1, 2023). "Sheila Oliver, New Jersey's Trailblazing Lieutenant Governor, Has Died". The New York Times.
47. (July 31, 2023). "New Jersey's acting governor taken to hospital for undisclosed medical care".
48. Wildstein, David. (August 1, 2023). "Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver dies at 71". New Jersey Globe.
49. DiFilippo, Dana. (August 4, 2023). "Governor Murphy mourns Sheila Oliver as an 'inspiration, icon, irreplaceable friend'".
50. (August 3, 2023). "Governor Murphy orders flags to half-staff to mark Sheila Oliver's death". New Jersey Monitor.
51. (August 3, 2023). "Funeral details announced for New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver". CBS News Philadelphia.
52. Sobko, Katie. (August 1, 2023). "NJ lawmakers, leaders offer tributes to Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver after her death".
53. (August 1, 2023). "Statement from Governor Murphy on the Passing of Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver". State of New Jersey.
54. Kuperinsky, Amy. (November 23, 2025). "Late lieutenant governor inducted into New Jersey Hall of Fame • New Jersey Monitor".
55. "N.J. Election Results 2021".
56. "N.J. General Election Results 2021".
57. "N.J. General Election Results 2017". Secretary of State of New Jersey.
58. (July 26, 2017). "Sheila Oliver vows to be a 'very different' lieutenant governor".
59. (February 5, 2008). "34th Legislative District Parts of Essex and Passaic".
60. (July 21, 2005). "Official List Candidate Returns for General Assembly For June 2005 Primary Election".