How will the NJ lieutenant governor post be filled after Sheila Oliver's death?

Who will be New Jersey's next lieutenant governor?

The passing of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, only the state’s second lieutenant governor, on Tuesday has created a vacancy in the middle of a term for the first time.

When did NJ create the lieutenant governorship?

The position was created as the result of a constitutional amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution passed by the voters on Nov. 8, 2005, and effective as of Jan. 17, 2006.

Kim Guadagno, a Republican and former Monmouth County sheriff, was New Jersey's first lieutenant governor and was elected alongside her running mate, former Gov. Chris Christie, in 2009. She was inaugurated in 2010.

Oliver ran alongside Phil Murphy in 2017 and was inaugurated in January 2018.

Obituary: Sheila Oliver, NJ lieutenant governor, dies at age 71

More: With Murphy out of state, Scutari is NJ's acting governor

What comes next?

It’s now up to Murphy to fill the post. According to the state Constitution, the governor appoints a new lieutenant governor within 45 days of the vacancy to complete the term.

Candidates for lieutenant governor have to be at least 30 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least 20 years and a resident of New Jersey for at least seven years.

Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Sheila Oliver: How will NJ lieutenant governor post be filled