Tahesha Way
Tahesha Way (Democratic Party) was the Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey. She assumed office on September 8, 2023. She left office on January 20, 2026.
Way (Democratic Party) ran in a special election to the U.S. House to represent New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. She lost in the special Democratic primary on February 5, 2026.
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) appointed Way Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey on September 8, 2023, to replace Sheila Oliver (D). [1]
Biography
As of 2023, Tahesha Way lived in Wayne, New Jersey. Way earned a degree from Brown University and a juris doctor from the University of Virginia. Her career experience includes working as an administrative law judge with the State of New Jersey, the freeholder director of the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and a special counsel with the Passaic County Board of Social Services. Way has served as the president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, on the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, and as the president of the Women Empowered Democratic Organization of Passaic County.[2]
Political career
Below is a list of offices within Ballotpedia’s scope. Offices outside of that scope will not be listed. If an update is needed and the office is within our scope, please contact us.
Way's political career includes the following offices:
- 2023-2026: Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey
- 2018-2026: New Jersey Secretary of State
Appointments
2023
Way was appointed to serve as the Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey by Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy (D). She was sworn in on September 8, 2023 to replace Sheila Oliver, who died on August 1, 2023. [3]
2018
Way was nominated to serve as the New Jersey Secretary of State on December 18, 2017, by then-Governor-elect Phil Murphy (D). She was sworn in on February 26, 2018, after her nomination was confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate.[4]
Elections
2026
See also: New Jersey's 11th Congressional District special election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on April 16, 2026.
Special general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 11
Analilia Mejia (D), Joe Hathaway (R), and Alan Bond (Independent) are running in the special general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 11 on April 16, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Analilia Mejia (D) | |
 | Joe Hathaway (R) | |
 | Alan Bond (Independent) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary
Special Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 11
The following candidates ran in the special Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 11 on February 5, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Analilia Mejia | 29.3 | 19,775 |
 | Tom Malinowski | 27.6 | 18,600 | |
 | Tahesha Way | 17.4 | 11,735 | |
 | Brendan Gill | 14.2 | 9,548 | |
 | John Bartlett | 2.7 | 1,824 | |
 | Justin Strickland | 2.1 | 1,391 | |
 | Jeffrey Grayzel | 1.9 | 1,311 | |
 | Zach Beecher | 1.9 | 1,309 | |
 | Cammie Croft | 1.1 | 719 | |
 | Anna Lee Williams | 0.8 | 527 | |
 | J-L Cauvin | 0.4 | 293 | |
| Dean Dafis (Withdrew, still on ballot) | 0.4 | 280 | ||
| Marc Chaaban (Withdrew, still on ballot) | 0.2 | 123 | ||
| Total votes: 67,435 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joseph Lewis (D)
- Kennedy Pivnick (D)
Republican primary
Special Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 11
Joe Hathaway (R) advanced from the special Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 11 on February 5, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joe Hathaway | 97.4 | 14,616 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.6% | 392 | ||
| Total votes: 15,008 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Way received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Tahesha Way did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Way's campaign website stated the following:
Lowering Costs for New Jersey Families
Tahesha knows firsthand how hard it can be for families to make ends meet. As Passaic County Commissioner and Board Director, she expanded services without raising taxes, allowing families to stay in North Jersey – she’ll do the same in Congress, lowering costs by cutting junk fees and increasing the cap on SALT deductions.
Making Healthcare Accessible and Affordable
Living with a preexisting condition, Tahesha understands just how important it is that we protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. As North Jersey’s voice in Washington, she’ll defend the programs our seniors rely on, slash prescription drug costs, and make sure women have access to reproductive healthcare.
Protecting our Democracy from Donald Trump
As Secretary of State, Tahesha led New Jersey through one of the most consequential fights for voting rights in modern history, standing up to Donald Trump’s attempts to seize personal data and restrict voting access. In Washington, she will continue to protect our democracy and fundamental right to free and fair elections.
— Tahesha Way's campaign website (February 5, 2026)
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
| New Jersey | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Associated Press, "Tahesha Way sworn in as New Jersey’s lieutenant governor after death of Sheila Oliver," September 8, 2023
- ↑ NJ Department of State, "About the Lt. Governor," accessed October 3, 2023
- ↑ Associated Press, "Tahesha Way sworn in as New Jersey’s lieutenant governor after death of Sheila Oliver," September 8, 2023
- ↑ State of New Jersey Department of State, "About the Secretary," accessed August 5, 2018
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sheila Oliver (D) |
Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey 2023-2026 |
Succeeded by Dale Caldwell (D) |
| Preceded by Kimberly Guadagno (R) |
New Jersey Secretary of State 2018-2026 |
Succeeded by Dale Caldwell (D) |
