Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-25 · by Mike Catalini And Philip Marcelo The Associated Press
Story summary
On Thursday, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill called for the resignation of her handpicked Lieutenant Governor, Dale Caldwell, after an independent investigation found he had violated state ethics rules and committed sexual harassment. The report detailed incidents including making a sexually charged comment to a female staffer when she rejected his romantic advances towards her younger friend. Investigators concluded this constituted harassment and was not credible for Caldwell to deny. Additionally, the probe uncovered ethical violations such as bringing personal guests to events without proper clearance or payment and attempting to secure promotions for state employees with whom he had romantic relationships.
Sherrill gave Caldwell until Friday to resign, which he did on that day amid mounting pressure from her administration following the release of the report. Caldwell maintained his innocence but resigned to avoid further distraction, despite Sherrill calling his behavior "extremely troubling" and stating it undermined organizational trust. The resignation came as a surprise given the high praise Sherrill had previously heaped upon Caldwell during their campaign.
This development highlights internal administration conflicts that can arise from such allegations, particularly in New Jersey where the governor lacks direct power to remove an independently elected lieutenant governor but can still strip them of responsibilities and seek impeachment through legislative action.
Written for “New Jersey Lt Governor Resigns Over H…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 12 other(s) covering the same event.
New Jersey ’s Democratic lieutenant governor has resigned after the governor demanded he step down over sexual harassment allegations and ethical lapses involving his relationships with women.
asserted
he → resign → women
Gov. Mikie Sherrill had given Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell an ultimatum that he resign by Friday, though she lacked the power to remove him if he said no.
asserted
he → give → him
Sherrill announced the resignation at a news conference that afternoon.
asserted
Sherrill → announce → conference
“His decision will allow us to move forward with important work serving the people of our state,” she said.
asserted
she → allow → state
“In my administration we are committed to doing what is right, not what is politically expedient.”
asserted
what → commit → administration
Sherrill picked Caldwell, a Methodist pastor and former president of Centenary University, to be her running mate last year.
asserted
Sherrill → pick → University
They were elected together and took office in January, but within four months Caldwell had become the subject of an anonymous complaint about his behavior with women.
asserted
Caldwell → elect → women
In New Jersey, a governor can’t fire the lieutenant governor, as the post is independently elected.
asserted
post → fire → governor
But lieutenant governors can be impeached and removed from office by the Legislature.
asserted
governors → impeach → Legislature
A governor can strip a lieutenant governor of nearly all duties and responsibilities, effectively sidelining them from the administration.
asserted
governor → strip → administration
Sherrill hired the law firm of a former New Jersey attorney general, Christopher Porrino, to investigate.
asserted
Sherrill → hire → general
In a report released Thursday, the lawyers said Caldwell had committed several violations of state policy.
asserted
Caldwell → release → policy
It said Caldwell, 66, had made an advance toward a staff member’s friend and when he was rebuffed told the staffer, “you young women are looking for young sperm.”
asserted
women → say → sperm
The report also said Caldwell had tried to get a promotion for a state employee he was dating and brought personal guests to the opera and other ticketed events without paying for them, as required by ethics rules.
asserted
he → say → rules
Caldwell denied any misconduct, and said in a letter included in the law firm’s report that he suspected his relationships with women were being subjected to extra scrutiny because he was a single Black man.
asserted
he → deny → scrutiny
His lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, said Caldwell never made the sperm statement or used his position to further his romantic life.
asserted
Caldwell → say → life
Caldwell did recommend a female friend for a promotion, Calcagni said, but only because he thought she would be a good candidate for the job.
asserted
she → recommend → job
He denied ordering anyone to promote her or knowingly violating ethics rules by failing to disclose their personal relationship when he recommended her.
asserted
he → deny → her
Sherrill had said Caldwell needed to resign because he had committed “serious, repeated violations of state policy,” despite multiple warnings and trainings.
asserted
he → say → warnings
Besides being the first in line to become governor if Sherrill were to die, be removed from office or become incapacitated, Caldwell had also served as New Jersey’s appointed secretary of state.
asserted
Caldwell → become → state
In that role, he had a supervisory role over the state’s elections.
asserted
he → have → elections
In neighboring New York, a similar impasse has played out over the past year between Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and her estranged Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who launched a caustic primary challenge to unseat her only to withdraw from the race as the election neared.
asserted
election → neighbor → race
Hochul is now running for reelection in November with Adrienne Adams, the former speaker of the New York City Council, as her replacement lieutenant governor nominee.
asserted
Hochul → run → nominee
___
Marcelo reported from New York.
asserted
Marcelo → report → York
The Aporia
