Tahesha Leila Way was born in 1971 or 1972 and raised in the Bronx, New York, the daughter of Robert and Rosa Wright, both employees of the New York City Transit Authority. She earned a bachelor's degree in English and American literature from Brown University, where she served as Vice President of the collegiate chapter of the NAACP, President of the Iota Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., taught religious education, and worked as a radio announcer for WBRU-FM. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1996, where she clerked for the Virginia Legal Aid Society and the United Steelworkers of America.

Way was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1998. She worked as a lawyer in Totowa, New Jersey, as a television producer for Court TV, as a literature professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and as an administrative law judge for the State of New Jersey. In 2006, she was appointed to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders and was subsequently elected, serving as Freeholder Director in 2009. She also served as Special Counsel for the Passaic County Board of Social Services, overseeing all agency litigation, and as a Council Member for the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council.

In December 2017, Governor-elect Phil Murphy selected Way as New Jersey's 34th Secretary of State. She was sworn in on February 26, 2018, after Senate confirmation. As Secretary of State, she served as New Jersey's chief elections officer, overseeing the state's transition to mail-in voting during the COVID-19 pandemic and the debut of in-person early voting. She chaired the state's Complete Count Commission for the 2020 U.S. Census and served as the first Black person and first Secretary from New Jersey to lead the National Association of Secretaries of State as President (2022–2023).

On September 8, 2023, following the death of Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, Governor Murphy appointed Way as New Jersey's 3rd Lieutenant Governor. Because New Jersey's lieutenant governor must simultaneously hold a cabinet position, Way continued serving as Secretary of State. She was sworn in on September 8, 2023, and served until January 20, 2026.

In December 2025, Way announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District special election to succeed Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill. She entered the race with endorsements from the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, and the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State. She finished third in the February 5, 2026 Democratic primary with 17.4% of the vote (11,737 votes), behind Analilia Mejia (29.3%) and Tom Malinowski (27.6%).

Political Career

• Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey (2023–2026); appointed September 8, 2023; served until January 20, 2026

• Secretary of State of New Jersey (2018–2026); sworn in February 26, 2018; 34th Secretary of State

• Candidate for U.S. House, NJ-11 (2026); lost Democratic primary February 5, 2026 (17.4%, 3rd place)

• Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders (2006–2010); appointed 2006; elected; Freeholder Director (2009)

• Special Counsel, Passaic County Board of Social Services (prior to 2018)

• Council Member, New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (prior to 2018)

• President, National Association of Secretaries of State (2022–2023); first Black person and first NJ Secretary to hold position

• President, Women Empowered Democratic Organization of Passaic County (prior to 2018)

Key Policy Areas

• Election administration and voting rights

• Census and demographic data collection

• Arts, culture, and tourism development

• Affordability and cost-of-living relief

• Healthcare access and affordability

• Reproductive rights

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Oversaw New Jersey's transition to mail-in voting and debut of in-person early voting as chief elections officer during COVID-19 pandemic

• Chaired New Jersey Complete Count Commission for 2020 U.S. Census

• Led National Association of Secretaries of State as first Black president (2022–2023)

• Pushed back against Trump administration attempts to seize voter roll data and restrict voting access

• Ran for Congress in NJ-11 special election with endorsements from Congressional Black Caucus PAC and Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association (2025–2026)

Education

• B.A., English and American Literature, Brown University

• J.D., University of Virginia School of Law (1996)

Personal

• Birth date: 1971 or 1972

• Residence: Wayne, New Jersey

• Spouse: Charles Way (former New York Giants running back)

• Children: Four daughters (Fallon, Farrah, Faythe, Fiona)

• Parents: Robert and Rosa Wright (deceased; both NYC Transit Authority employees)