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Tahesha Way
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Tahesha Leila Way (née Wright; born 1971 or 1972)[1][2] is an American politician and jurist from New Jersey. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as the state's third lieutenant governor from 2023 to 2026, and as its 34th secretary of State from 2018 to 2026. She was previously a member and director of the Board of Chosen Freeholders in Passaic County, New Jersey.
Key Information
Background
[edit]Way earned her undergraduate degree in English and American literature from Brown University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. She worked as a law clerk, a television producer for Court TV, and a literature professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University.[3]
Career
[edit]Way was admitted to the state bar in 1998.[4] She worked as a lawyer in Totowa, New Jersey, and as an administrative law judge.[2][3]
Way was appointed to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2006.[4] In December 2017, Governor-elect Phil Murphy selected Way as the next Secretary of State of New Jersey.[5] She was sworn in as New Jersey's 34th Secretary of State on February 26, 2018.[6]
On September 8, 2023, Murphy appointed Way as lieutenant governor of New Jersey, filling the vacancy triggered by the death of Sheila Oliver.[1] As the lieutenant governor of New Jersey is constitutionally required to simultaneously hold an appointed cabinet position, Way continued to serve as Secretary of State.[2]
In July 2024, Way was mentioned as a contender to be appointed by Murphy to replace Bob Menendez in the United States Senate, after Menendez announced that he would resign effective August 20 after being convicted in his corruption trial;[7] Murphy ultimately chose George Helmy to take Menendez's seat.[8]
In December 2025, Way announced her run to replace Mikie Sherrill in the 2026 New Jersey's 11th congressional district special election after Sherrill resigned to become the governor of New Jersey.[9] She lost the Democratic primary to Analilia Mejia.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Way is married to former New York Giants running back Charles Way. They have four daughters.[2][4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Wildstein, David (September 7, 2023). "Murphy chooses Tahesha Way as Lt. Governor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Tully, Tracey (September 8, 2023). "Tahesha Way Is Sworn In as New Jersey Lieutenant Governor". The New York Times. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "New Jersey Highlands Council". Official website for the State of New Jersey. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) Alternative URL - ^ a b c "Freeholder Tahesha Way". Official website for Passaic County, New Jersey. Archived from the original on April 12, 2008. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- ^ Arco, Matt; Johnson, Brent (December 18, 2017). "Murphy slams Trump and his 'lunatic' pal over voting rights in naming secretary of state". NJ.com. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ "N.J. Secretary of State Tahesha Way". Official website for New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
- ^ Fandos, Nicholas; Tully, Tracey (July 23, 2024). "Who Will Replace Robert Menendez in the Senate?". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Fox, Joey (August 16, 2024). "Statements on George Helmy's U.S. Senate appointment". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (December 2, 2025). "Tahesha Way makes formal entrance into NJ-11 race with major endorsements in hand".
- ^ Tully, Tracey (February 12, 2026). "In an Upset, Analilia Mejia, a Progressive, Wins a Democratic House Race". The New York Times.
External links
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