Kim Guadagno

Kim Guadagno
Born	Kimberly Ann McFadden 4/13/1959
Birthplace	Waterloo, Iowa, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Title	1st Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey
Known for	First Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey
Education	American University (JD)
Children	3

Kimberly Ann Guadagno (née McFadden; born April 13, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician who made New Jersey history as the first person to serve as the state's lieutenant governor, a position she held concurrently with the office of secretary of state from 2010 to 2018. A Republican who ran on the ticket with Governor Chris Christie, Guadagno brought a background in federal prosecution and county law enforcement to the newly created office, becoming one of the more prominent figures in New Jersey politics during the 2010s. Before joining the Christie administration, she served as the Sheriff of Monmouth County, the first woman elected to that position. In 2017, Guadagno won the Republican primary for governor of New Jersey but lost the general election to Democrat Phil Murphy. Her career has spanned roles in federal law enforcement, county government, and state executive leadership, and she remains notable as the only Republican and the only white person to have served as lieutenant governor of New Jersey through 2026.

Early Life

Kimberly Ann McFadden was born on April 13, 1959, in Waterloo, Iowa. Details about her parents and upbringing in Iowa are limited in publicly available records. She later moved to the East Coast to pursue her higher education and legal career.

Guadagno's background prior to entering politics was rooted in law and law enforcement. After completing her education, she embarked on a career as a federal prosecutor, which provided the foundation for her later work in county and state government. Her professional trajectory took her through several significant positions within the federal legal system before she transitioned into elected office in New Jersey.

Education

Guadagno earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ursinus College, a private liberal arts college in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. She then obtained her Juris Doctor degree from American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. Her legal education prepared her for a career that began in federal law enforcement and eventually led to public office in New Jersey.

Career

Federal Prosecution

Before entering electoral politics, Guadagno worked as an assistant United States attorney, serving in federal prosecution roles that gave her significant experience in law enforcement and the judicial system. Her work as a federal prosecutor established her credentials in criminal justice, which she later leveraged in her campaigns for county and state office.

Sheriff of Monmouth County

Guadagno entered elected office when she became the Sheriff of Monmouth County, New Jersey. She was the first woman to hold the position in the county's history. She served as the 75th Sheriff of Monmouth County beginning January 1, 2008, succeeding Joseph Oxley in the role.

During her tenure as sheriff, Guadagno oversaw several initiatives within the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office. Among these was the implementation of Project Lifesaver, a program designed to assist in the rapid recovery of individuals with cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and autism who are prone to wandering. The program utilized radio-frequency technology to help locate missing persons quickly, reflecting Guadagno's emphasis on community safety programs during her time leading the sheriff's office.

Guadagno served as sheriff until January 19, 2010, when she resigned to assume the lieutenant governorship. She was succeeded as sheriff by Shaun Golden.

Selection as Running Mate

On July 20, 2009, Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie announced that he had selected Guadagno as his running mate for the 2009 New Jersey gubernatorial election. The selection was significant because New Jersey had never previously had a lieutenant governor. The position was created by a 2005 constitutional amendment approved by voters, prompted in part by a series of gubernatorial succession crises that had left the state without clear executive leadership on multiple occasions.

Christie's choice of Guadagno was reported as a strategic decision. At the time, she was a relatively unknown figure outside of Monmouth County, but her background as a federal prosecutor and county sheriff gave her law enforcement credentials that complemented Christie's own background as a former United States attorney. The New York Times reported on the selection, noting that it was the first time New Jersey voters would cast ballots for a gubernatorial ticket that included a lieutenant governor candidate.

A Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll conducted around that period examined name recognition for political figures in New Jersey, reflecting the relatively low public profile that Guadagno had at the time of her selection as Christie's running mate.

2009 General Election

The Christie-Guadagno ticket won the November 2009 general election, defeating incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine. CNN reported on the results as part of its coverage of the 2009 election cycle, which also included gubernatorial races in Virginia and other states. The victory made Guadagno the first lieutenant governor in New Jersey history and simultaneously the 33rd secretary of state, as the lieutenant governor was designated to serve concurrently in that capacity under the state's constitutional framework.

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State (2010–2018)

Guadagno was inaugurated as lieutenant governor and secretary of state on January 19, 2010, alongside Governor Christie. In this dual role, she succeeded Nina Wells as secretary of state. The lieutenant governorship was a newly created office, with no predecessor in the position.

As lieutenant governor, Guadagno assumed a range of responsibilities. The role was designed in part to ensure continuity of executive leadership, addressing the constitutional gaps that had previously arisen when governors left office or were incapacitated. The secretary of state portfolio gave her oversight of elections administration, business registration, and various state regulatory functions.

One of the areas in which Guadagno was active was economic development and small business promotion. She took on responsibilities related to the state's business climate and regulatory environment as part of the Christie administration's broader economic agenda.

Arts Council Investigation

In 2011, the state initiated an investigation into three arts councils in New Jersey, a matter that fell within the scope of the secretary of state's office. The investigation examined potential irregularities involving these organizations. After approximately seven months, the investigation was concluded.

Pension Fraud Probe

Guadagno's tenure was also marked by a probe into pension fraud in New Jersey. The investigation was eventually closed by the state, though questions about the matter lingered. NJ Spotlight reported on the conclusion of the probe, noting that despite the formal closure of the investigation, some issues remained unresolved.

Hoboken Sandy Funds Controversy

In January 2014, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer publicly alleged that members of the Christie administration had conveyed a message that Hurricane Sandy recovery funds for Hoboken would be contingent upon the mayor's support for a particular real estate development project in the city. Zimmer stated that Guadagno had personally delivered this message to her.

The allegations came during the broader controversy surrounding the George Washington Bridge lane realignment scandal, commonly known as "Bridgegate," which engulfed the Christie administration in late 2013 and early 2014. Guadagno denied the allegations made by Zimmer. The matter drew significant national media attention to both Guadagno and the Christie administration.

A communication from Michael Guadagno, the lieutenant governor's husband, to her regarding the allegations was later reported on by NJ.com.

2017 Gubernatorial Campaign

Republican Primary

In 2017, Guadagno entered the race for the Republican nomination for governor of New Jersey. Christie was term-limited and could not seek re-election. Guadagno ran in a competitive primary field, positioning herself as a candidate with executive experience from her eight years as lieutenant governor. She won the Republican primary election, securing the party's nomination for the general election.

General Election

In the November 2017 general election, Guadagno faced Democratic nominee Phil Murphy, a former United States ambassador to Germany and Goldman Sachs executive. The race proved challenging for Guadagno, who faced headwinds from the unpopularity of the outgoing Christie administration and a political environment that favored Democrats in the state. Murphy won the election, and Guadagno left office on January 16, 2018. She was succeeded as lieutenant governor by Sheila Oliver and as secretary of state by Tahesha Way.

Personal Life

Guadagno is the mother of three children. Her husband, Michael Guadagno, has been a figure in some of the public reporting on her political career; notably, a note he sent to the lieutenant governor regarding the Hoboken Sandy funds controversy was reported on by NJ.com in 2017.

Guadagno was a member of the Republican Party throughout her time in public office. As of 2021, she re-registered as an independent, leaving the Republican Party.

The surname Guadagno is of Italian origin. She took the name upon marriage, having been born Kimberly Ann McFadden.

Legacy

Kim Guadagno's place in New Jersey political history is secured primarily by her distinction as the first person to serve as the state's lieutenant governor. The creation of the office represented a significant structural change in New Jersey's government, and Guadagno's eight-year tenure in the role helped define the contours and expectations of the position for future occupants. As of 2026, she remains the only Republican and the only white person to have served in the office, with her successors Sheila Oliver and subsequent officeholders having been Democrats.

Her dual service as both lieutenant governor and secretary of state established the precedent for how those combined roles function in practice. The lieutenant governor's responsibilities in overseeing elections, business services, and ensuring continuity of gubernatorial leadership were shaped in significant part by Guadagno's approach to the office during the Christie administration.

Guadagno's earlier career also left a mark on Monmouth County, where she was the first woman to serve as sheriff, breaking a barrier in a position that had been held exclusively by men for the county's entire history. Her transition from federal prosecutor to county sheriff to statewide officeholder represented an unusual career path that drew on law enforcement experience rather than the more traditional legislative route into executive office.

Her 2017 gubernatorial campaign, while unsuccessful, made her one of the few Republican women to be nominated for governor of New Jersey in a general election. The campaign highlighted both the opportunities and challenges facing Republican candidates in an increasingly Democratic-leaning state, and her loss to Phil Murphy reflected broader political trends in New Jersey during that period.