28 Facts About Sheila Oliver

Sheila Yvette Oliver was an American politician who served as the second lieutenant governor of New Jersey from 2018 until her death in 2023.

Sheila Oliver represented the 34th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2004 to 2018, serving as speaker of the body from 2010 to 2014.

Sheila Oliver was the first Black woman to serve as speaker of the General Assembly and the second Black woman in the history of the United States to lead a state legislative body.

Sheila Oliver ran for US Senate in a 2013 special election, finishing fourth in a Democratic primary that was won by Cory Booker.

Murphy and Sheila Oliver were re-elected to their respective posts in 2021.

On July 31,2023, Sheila Oliver suffered a medical event; she died the following day.

Sheila Yvette Oliver was born in Newark, New Jersey on July 14,1952.

On May 6,2018, Sheila Oliver received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Lincoln University.

Sheila Oliver was the executive director of The Leaguers, Inc.

Sheila Oliver taught at the college level, serving as an adjunct faculty member at Essex County College and Caldwell University.

Sheila Oliver served on the Board of Education of the East Orange School District from 1994 to 2000, and was chosen by her peers to serve as its vice president from 1998 to 1999 and as its president from 1999 to 2000.

Sheila Oliver served on the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders from District Three for one term from 1996 to 1999, but was defeated for a second term on the board in the June 1999 Democratic primary election.

In 1997, Oliver ran for mayor of the City of East Orange, narrowly losing the Democratic primary election to Robert L Bowser.

On November 23,2009, Sheila Oliver was elected unanimously by Assembly Democrats to become the 169th Speaker of the Assembly.

Sheila Oliver's election made her the first Black woman to serve as speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, the second woman in New Jersey history to serve as Assembly speaker, and the second African American to hold the post.

Sheila Oliver served in the Assembly on the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, the Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, the Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity, and the Joint Committee on the Public Schools.

On June 10,2013, Sheila Oliver formally announced that she would run in the special election for the United States Senate seat which had been previously held by the late Frank Lautenberg.

Murphy announced he would appoint Sheila Oliver to serve as commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, a cabinet position, made under a provision of the New Jersey Constitution that allows the governor to appoint his lieutenant governor to a cabinet post without requiring the approval of the New Jersey Senate.

When Carlos Rendo, during their one televised debate, challenged her decision to run for both seats, Sheila Oliver had said that she had filed to run for re-election before she was chosen by Murphy as his running mate and would resign from her Assembly seat if she and Murphy were elected.

Sheila Oliver resigned her Assembly seat on January 9,2018 and was succeeded by Britnee Timberlake.

Sheila Oliver was sworn in as lieutenant governor on January 16,2018.

Sheila Oliver was the second lieutenant governor in the history of the state.

Sheila Oliver was the first black woman to serve as lieutenant governor of New Jersey and the first woman of color elected to statewide office in New Jersey.

Sheila Oliver served as the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs during her tenure as lieutenant governor.

In 2021, Sheila Oliver ran for re-election to the post of lieutenant governor as Murphy's running mate.

Sheila Oliver debated Diane Allen, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, on October 5,2021.

On July 28,2023, Sheila Oliver assumed the role of acting governor while Governor Murphy was out of state on vacation in Italy.

Sheila Oliver died the following day, August 1,2023, at age 71.