Serve for Change Coalition Demands Representation for Latinos in NJ Government
Statement on New Jersey’s Lieutenant Governor Appointment
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The Serve for Change Coalition congratulates Shirley Emehelu on her expected appointment as New Jersey’s next Lieutenant Governor. We wish her success and remain prepared to work with Governor Mikie Sherrill and her Administration to move New Jersey forward.
In the spirit of collaboration, we welcome the opportunity for ongoing dialogue about the experience, expertise and perspectives qualified Latino leaders can bring to Cabinet positions and appointments to State authorities, boards and commissions. But we must also be candid: New Jersey missed an important opportunity to elevate a qualified Latino leader to one of the highest offices in the State.
The Latino community is one of the largest economic engines of New Jersey, and no longer simply a constituency to be acknowledged. We are a constituency that can determine the outcome of any election.
Approximately 2.2 million Latinos call New Jersey home (24% of the population), representing nearly one-quarter of the State’s population and workforce. Hispanic-owned businesses account for approximately 18% of businesses statewide, and New Jersey’s Latino economy generates an estimated $158 billion in annual economic output. With economic power comes electoral power.
In the 2024 presidential election, the Democratic ticket carried New Jersey by approximately 6 percentage points, compared with approximately 16 points in 2020, a ten-point decline in only four years. One year later, 68% of Latinos voted for the Democratic candidate after an aggressive effort to mobilize our base because Governor Mikie Sherrill made a commitment to create a better economy and an administration that reflects New Jersey’s growing diversity. In 2026, the trend of holding Republicans accountable that began in New Jersey a year before continued; Democrats swung back 26% points because of broken promises by Trump and the Republican Party.
The message should be unmistakable: Latino economic strength, population growth, civic engagement and electoral participation must be taken seriously.
A community that contributes billions in economic activity to New Jersey deserves meaningful representation in the rooms where the State’s most consequential decisions are made. According to data from Rutgers University, Latino representation at all levels of government remains stuck at 5% across state and local government. #10509081
The New Jersey Government has 27 cabinet positions and over 400 state authorities and commissions. Of the 27 cabinet positions, only two Latinas and zero Latinos were appointed to the cabinet. As for appointments to the over 400 Commissions and Authorities in New Jersey, there have been 93 recommendations made for NJ Senate confirmation so far. Only the two Latinas cabinet members are included in those recommendations. No other Latinos or Latinas have been recommended this year.
We are disappointed that the appointment of the lieutenant governor did not even consider the voices of the Latino community. The community demanded to be part of the discussion, and the call for inclusion fell on deaf ears.
While we remain ready to work with Governor Mikie Sherrill and Lieutenant Governor Shirley Emehelu on affordability, jobs, small-business growth, education, housing and economic opportunity, we will continue insisting that qualified Latino leaders receive meaningful consideration for the highest levels of government.
Since the beginning of this administration, the Serve for Change Coalition, has met with
Governor Sherrill’s team to advance a three prong agenda that fully integrates Latinos as part of New Jersey’s economic growth agenda which includes;
(1) representation of Latinos at highest level of NJ Government
(2) investment in our non-profit sector who provide education, training and support for the social needs of our community
(3) action to address the disparity study on state contracting that limits the growth and
investment of NJ Latino entrepreneurs
We wholeheartedly believe that a Latino agenda is a New Jersey agenda. We are prepared to continue to work with Governor Sherrill, her administration and the legislature to advance Latino representation at all levels of State Government. But make no mistake, it is time for New Jersey’s leadership to reflect that reality.
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The Serve for Change Coalition, is a volunteer-led collaborative of leaders in New Jersey launched in October 2025 to advocate for Latino representation within state government leadership and key administrative appointments.
