New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, First Black Woman to Hold Statewide-Elected Office, Dies at 71

Washington
CNN
 — 

New Jersey Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who made history as the first Black woman to hold statewide-elected office in the Garden State, has passed away at the age of 71, according to her family. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Oliver’s family released a statement saying, “She was not only a distinguished public servant but also our cherished daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and hero. Sheila Y. Oliver leaves behind a legacy of dedication, service, and inspiration. We will remember her commitment to the people of New Jersey and her tireless efforts to uplift the community.”

Just days before her passing, Oliver was receiving medical care and unable to serve as acting governor while New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy was on vacation. New Jersey State Senate President Nicholas Scutari assumed the duties of acting governor.

Oliver, a Democrat, had served as New Jersey’s lieutenant governor since January 2018. She was also the first woman of color to serve in a statewide elected office in the history of New Jersey. In addition, she was the first Black woman to serve as speaker of the state general assembly, a position she held after being elected in 2003.

Speaking at a Columbia University commencement in 2019, Oliver reflected on her unexpected entrance into politics. “A friend who was running for state Senate needed to round out his ticket, and he asked me to run on his ticket with him. Now I was just, you know, window dressing to help with the campaign. The night of the election, he lost and I won. And that began my career as a state legislator,” she recalled.

Oliver attended Lincoln University for her undergraduate degree and obtained a Master of Science Degree in Community Organization, Planning and Administration from Columbia University.

Governor Murphy expressed his sorrow at the news of Oliver’s passing, saying, “When I selected her to be my running mate in 2017, Lieutenant Governor Oliver was already a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She had already made history as the first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the General Assembly, and just the second Black woman in the nation’s history to lead a house of a state legislature. I knew then that her decades of public service made her the ideal partner for me to lead the State of New Jersey. It was the best decision I ever made.”

This story has been updated with additional details and reaction.