Listen to this article

The basics:

• Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill nominated Jennifer Davenport as New Jersey’s next attorney general
• Davenport previously served as first assistant AG under Gurbir Grewal
• She will succeed Matthew Platkin at the Department of Law & Public Safety
• Davenport would become the fifth woman to serve as the state’s attorney general

Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill is tapping veteran career prosecutor Jennifer Davenport as her choice for New Jersey’s chief law enforcement officer.

Sherrill announced her nomination for the 63rd Attorney General of New Jersey in a Dec. 15 press release. The incoming Democratic governor praised Davenport as a lifelong public servant who has dedicated herself to upholding the law.

A Monmouth County resident, Davenport’s background includes serving as first assistant attorney general from 2018–2020 and from 2021– 2022 under then-AG Gurbir Grewal.

Davenport will succeed Matthew Platkin as leader of the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety. After current Gov. Phil Murphy nominated him in February 2022, the New Jersey State Senate confirmed Platkin seven months later.

Dedicated public servant

Before joining the AG’s office, Davenport served as a division counsel for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for three years. Her background also includes seven years as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, where she was chief of the general crimes unit.

Davenport’s experience also spans associate posts in the Newark offices of Latham & Watkins and Patton Boggs, clerking for Chief Judge John Bissell at U.S. District Court and serving as acting Union County prosecutor, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Additionally, she worked as an intelligence analyst at the DEA before and during her time at Seton Hall University School of Law. Davenport is also a past New Jersey commissioner on the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.

In a statement, Sherrill said, “A strong Attorney General is critical to delivering for New Jerseyans, whether that taking on price gougers, fighting for federal resources, or protecting our rights and freedoms. That’s why I’m excited to announce Jennifer Davenport as my Attorney General nominee.”

“Working with Jen at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I saw her ironclad commitment to upholding the law and the Constitution. Equally as powerful is her dedication to public service, working hand-in-hand with the communities she served to ensure our residents felt safe and supported. Jen’s ability to work with anyone and everyone to deliver for our residents and her decade and a half of experience with complex civil and criminal cases will be essential as we work to build a more affordable Garden State. As a lifelong New Jerseyan, I know Jen will never back down from a fight,” the governor-elect stated.

Continuing to build

Davenport thanked Sherrill for nominating her. “The Attorney General’s Office plays a critical role in advancing the Governor-elect’s mission of keeping residents safe and making the state affordable, and I share her commitment to that mission. I have spent my career in public service and alongside law enforcement, and in each role, I have worked to bring people together and solve the toughest problems facing our state,” she said.

“So, from taking on gun violence and human trafficking, to protecting our children, to ensuring affordability, to defending New Jerseyans from attacks out of Washington, I will build on my career in law enforcement and in public service to protect New Jerseyans every day,” the mother of two added.

Davenport has served as deputy general counsel and chief litigation counsel at Newark-based public utility company PSEG since 2022.

New Jersey Globe noted that Davenport’s prior post at PSEG will likely require her to recuse herself from energy-related matters, such as Sherrill’s vow to declare a state of emergency on utility costs.

‘An excellent choice’

According to New Jersey Globe, other contenders for the position included former Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna, former State Comptroller Matt Boxer, Sherrill campaign attorney Raj Parikh and Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin.

Ahead of taking office Jan. 20, 2026, Sherrill has named several key members of her cabinet, including Lt. Gov.-elect Dale Caldwell as secretary of state and Kellie Doucette as New Jersey’s first chief operations officer.

Davenport will become the fifth woman in New Jersey history to serve as attorney general, New Jersey Globe pointed out. She joins:

• Deborah Poritz 1994–1996
• Zulima Farber 2006–2007
• Anne Migram 2007–2010
• Paula Dow 2010–2012

Former New Jersey Attorney General and current Lowenstein Sandler LLP partner Christopher Porrino reflected on his relationship with Davenport, saying, “I have known Jen for many years and have worked very closely with her, in some highly challenging circumstances. She is relatable and understated, but an extremely effective leader.”

Porrino served as AG from 2016–2018 under then Gov. Chris Christie.

He added, “On the civil side, the hard working people of the Department of Law and Public Safety will be inspired and motivated by her commitment to the rule of law. On the criminal side, her deep law enforcement experience, both state and federal, will serve her well in working to reduce gun violence and other violent crimes.”

“Both law enforcement and the communities trust her. Gov.-elect Sherrill has made an excellent choice and I will be proud to call Jen Davenport our Attorney General,” Porrino stated.

Smooth transition

In a social media post, Platkin said he is “thrilled” Davenport will serve as the state’s next AG. He also pledged to be “fully committed to ensuring a smooth and productive transition.”

“Jen is, without question, one of the finest public servants I have ever known, and will do an extraordinary job as our State’s chief law enforcement officer,” he added.

Statement by Attorney General Platkin on Jennifer Davenport Being Selected to Serve as 63rd New Jersey Attorney General. pic.twitter.com/qyctYy9wx9

— Attorney General Matt Platkin (@NewJerseyOAG) December 15, 2025

More reaction from around the state

Sherrill’s team issued a statement after the announcement, sharing congratulations from state leaders:

Grewal applauded Sherrill’s nomination, adding, “Jen has the intellect, experience, and integrity required for the job and will be an exceptional Attorney General. As a career public servant with deep law enforcement experience, including at the Attorney General’s office, she has already done the hard work to earn the trust of her future colleagues, as well as law enforcement officers, community stakeholders, and public officials across the state.

“And because of that experience and credibility, she understands the immense power of the office and the need to exercise it responsibly in protecting the public, safeguarding the integrity of our institutions, and ensuring equal justice—whether the matter involves violent crime, corruption, consumer fraud, civil rights, or complex financial misconduct. Simply put, she’ll make the right calls for the right reasons and will be ready to serve New Jerseyans from day one,” Grewal added.

In a joint statement, Sens. Vin Gopal, D-11th District, and Declan O’Scanlon, R-13th District, applauded “the selection of Monmouth County’s own Jen Davenport as Governor-elect Sherrill’s nominee for Attorney General.”

The senators said they have had discussions with Davenport regarding “prosecuting violent criminals, going after financial crimes, battling antisemitism and discrimination, cutting red tape in departments such as the the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and much more.”

“We look forward to continuing these conversations in the weeks and months ahead. We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate to confirm her,” they added.

Read what other leaders had to say here.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:50 p.m. Dec. 15, 2025, to include more reaction from state leaders.