Why does New Jersey have an acting governor? Explaining how it works

Acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency July 31 due to an upcoming storm.

If you're wondering why Way was serving as acting governor in place of Gov. Phil Murphy, here's an explanation.

Why does NJ have an acting governor

Murphy was away on a family vacation in Italy for the week. In his place Lt. Gov. Way serves as acting governor. The state senate president would be next in line if both Murphy and Way were unable to serve as acting governor, such as what happened in July 2023.

While away Murphy remained diligent on social media including sharing the latest weather warnings and information, and commemorating two years since the death of former Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver.

Way has served as lieutenant governor since 2023.

What does an acting governor do?

An acting governor has the ability to implement executive orders and sign legislation, such as Way declaring a state of emergency.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Why does NJ have an acting governor?