BREAKING: Tragic News As Lt. Governor Is Confirmed Dead (PHOTO)

BREAKING: Tragic News As Lt. Governor Is Confirmed Dead (PHOTO)

Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, a prominent Black leader in New Jersey known for her advocacy for city revitalization and against gun violence, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 71 after a sudden illness.

Governor Phil Murphy’s office confirmed her death, but no cause of death was disclosed.

Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver

Oliver was serving as acting governor while Gov. Murphy and his family were on vacation in Italy, and she had been hospitalized the previous day.

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She made history as the first Black woman to hold statewide elected office in New Jersey, winning alongside Murphy in 2017 and 2021. Oliver was well-known in state government and became the first Black woman to lead the state Assembly in 2010.

Unlike her predecessor, she regularly appeared alongside Gov. Murphy and actively participated in policy initiatives, especially in efforts to combat gun violence in cities disproportionately affected by it.

In her role as acting governor, Oliver signed several bills into law and oversaw the Department of Community Affairs, which coordinated state aid to towns and cities and supervised code enforcement.

She was a respected public speaker and a key partner for Governor Murphy. Her sudden illness and passing shocked officials, and her legacy as a pathbreaker and leader was widely acknowledged.

The constitution requires Governor Murphy to appoint a successor for Oliver within 45 days, but it is yet to be determined who will immediately succeed her.