New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has gone on vacation to Italy where he owns a home.
Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver was serving as acting governor amid Murphy’s absence… until Oliver, 71, was rushed to the hosptial for an undisclosed medical issue.
Oliver was taken to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and is unable to carry out the duties of acting governor, Murphy’s spokesperson Mahen Gunaratna said in a statement Monday.
Twice, the spokesperson said that Oliver was receiving “medical care.” So far, he has declined to elaborate.
“Lieutenant Governor Oliver is currently receiving medical care at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and is unable to discharge the duties of Acting Governor at this time,” the spokesperson stated. “We wish the lieutenant governor well as she undergoes medical care. We will provide updates to the situation as they arise.”
Murphy’s office has said he’s out of the country on a family vacation in Italy, where he owns a home.
“Wishing my partner in government a speedy recovery,” Murphy’s team tweeted.
New Jersey is one of 26 states where the governor chooses a lieutenant governor as a running mate. New Jersey also requires lieutenant governors to lead a cabinet agency other than the Justice Department.
Oliver, a Democrat, has served in the role since 2018. At the same time, she works as the head of the Department of Community Affairs, which coordinates state aid to towns and cities and oversees code enforcement.
Under the state constitution, Democratic Senate President Nicholas Scutari will serve as acting governor.
Between 2001 and 2004, two New Jersey governors resigned without any clear successors. After that, voters amended the state constitution to say, “In the event that the Lieutenant Governor in office is absent from the State, or is unable to discharge the duties of the office… the functions, powers, duties, and emoluments of the office of Governor shall devolve upon the President of the Senate.”
Scutari has served as acting governor before. He assumed the role in June 2022, when both Murphy and Oliver were on vacation.
“Pursuant to constitutional mandates, I have again assumed the responsibilities of Acting Governor with a committment to faithfully discharge the duties of the office,” Scutari stated.
“I want to extend my best wishes to Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver for a rapid and healthy recovery. We look forward to her return.”
Wishing my partner in government a speedy recovery. https://t.co/QLBcEhgerL
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) July 31, 2023
From Acting Governor @SenPresScutari:
“I want to extend my best wishes to Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver for a rapid and healthy recovery. We look forward to her return.” pic.twitter.com/hBo2qSPKeY
— NJ Senate Democrats (@NJSenDems) July 31, 2023
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article.