On Monday, New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill announced that she will nominate Jennifer Davenport to serve as the next attorney general (AG) of New Jersey. Davenport, a lifelong New Jersey resident, is currently employed at PSEG, where she serves as deputy general counsel and chief litigation counsel and previously served as senior director – compliance. Her nomination signals a continuation of strong enforcement and regulatory focus, informed by both extensive public-sector experience and recent private-sector roles.
Davenport brings more than 15 years of law enforcement and prosecutorial experience at the state and federal levels. She previously served for four years in senior leadership positions at the New Jersey AG’s office, including as first assistant AG (2018–2020) and as the AG’s principal law enforcement advisor. She also served as New Jersey commissioner on the Waterfront Commission, where she focused on combating corruption in the New York and New Jersey harbors. Before joining the AG’s office, Davenport was division counsel to the New Jersey Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and spent seven years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the District of New Jersey, ultimately serving as chief of the General Crimes Unit. Before and during law school, she worked as an intelligence analyst at the DEA. Davenport is a graduate of DeSales University and Seton Hall University School of Law.
In announcing the nomination, Sherrill emphasized the central role of the AG in “taking on price gougers, fighting for federal resources, [and] protecting our rights and freedoms,” and highlighted Davenport’s “ironclad commitment to upholding the law and the Constitution,” and her experience with complex civil and criminal matters. Davenport, in turn, underscored her focus on public safety, affordability, and collaboration with law enforcement and communities, citing priorities such as combating gun violence and human trafficking, protecting children, and defending New Jersey residents from “attacks out of Washington.” As to affordability, Davenport mentioned “going after companies who price-gouge our consumers or who deny workers their fair wages,” “taking on landlords who collude to raise rents or who discriminate against New Jerseyans in housing,” and “protecting our kids online by holding Big Tech accountable for the harm they’re causing our children and their mental health.”
Davenport’s nomination requires confirmation by the state senate. The confirmation could occur as early as January 20, 2026, which is the day of Governor-elect Sherrill’s inauguration. Davenport’s nomination has already won bipartisan support.
