Kim Guadagno

{{Short description|Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018}} {{Use American English|date=March 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Multiple issues|{{BLP sources|date=January 2017}} {{Lead too short|date=February 2022}}}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Kim Guadagno | image = Kim Guadagno 2017.jpg | office = 1st Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey | governor = Chris Christie | term_start = January 19, 2010 | term_end = January 16, 2018 | predecessor = ''Position established'' | successor = Sheila Oliver | office1 = 33rd Secretary of State of New Jersey | governor1 = Chris Christie | term_start1 = January 19, 2010 | term_end1 = January 16, 2018 | predecessor1 = Nina Wells | successor1 = Tahesha Way | office2 = 75th Sheriff of Monmouth County, New Jersey | term_start2 = January 1, 2008 | term_end2 = January 19, 2010 | predecessor2 = Joseph Oxley | successor2 = Shaun Golden | birth_name = Kimberly Ann McFadden | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|4|13}} | birth_place = Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican (until 2021)<br>Independent (2021–present)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/kim-guadagno-christies-lt-governor-leaves-the-republican-party/|title=Kim Guadagno, Christie's Lt. Governor, leaves Republican Party|date=July 22, 2021}}</ref> | spouse = {{marriage|Michael Guadagno|1991}} | children = 3 | education = Ursinus College (BA)<br>American University (JD) | caption = Guadagno in 2017 }} '''Kimberly Ann Guadagno''' ({{IPA|it|ɡwaˈdaɲɲo}}; ''née'' '''McFadden'''; born April 13, 1959)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/unprecedented_role_for_lt_gove.html|title=Unprecedented role for Lt. Gov. candidate Kim Guadagno|work=The Star-Ledger |first=Tomas|last=Dinges|date=August 9, 2009|access-date=November 4, 2009}}</ref> is an American lawyer and politician who served as the first lieutenant governor and 33rd secretary of state of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018.

Guadagno was the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey in 2017, but lost in the general election to Democrat Phil Murphy.

As of {{CURRENTYEAR}}, Guadagno is currently the only Republican to have served as the lieutenant governor of New Jersey, as well as the only white person to have served in that office.

==Early life and education== Kim Guadagno was born '''Kimberly Ann McFadden'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Kimberly McFadden|url=http://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/kimberly-mcfadden-1159208|publisher=Justia.com|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> in Waterloo, Iowa, the middle child of five of Mary Patricia "Pat" (Blevens) and Charles A. "Chuck" McFadden Jr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/governor/admin/lt/|title=State of New Jersey|publisher=Office of the Lieutenant Governor|access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Kim_Guadagno|title=Ballotpedia – Kim Guadagno|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=December 4, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pilotonline/obituary.aspx?n=charles-a-mcfadden-chuck&pid=157199037&fhid=5773|title=Charles A. "Chuck" McFadden Jr.'s Obituary on The Virginian Pilot|website=The Virginian Pilot}}</ref> Her father's job in sales had her living in many different places prior to going to college. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania in 1980, and a J.D. degree in 1983 from the Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.

==Career== ===Early legal work=== Kim Guadagno is a former assistant United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York and the District of New Jersey. She was also assistant New Jersey attorney general. Serving as deputy chief of the U.S. attorney's office's corruption unit from 1994 to 1998, Guadagno was responsible for the corruption prosecutions of former Essex County Executive Thomas D'Alessio (a Democrat) and of Somerset County Prosecutor Nicholas Bissell (a Republican).<ref name="Record20090720">Stile, Charles. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/nj_politics/chrischristieltgov072009.html "Christie announces lieutenant governor pick"], ''The Record (Bergen County)'', July 20, 2009. Accessed July 21, 2009</ref> In 1994, in a case involving an executive of lottery contractor GTECH Corporation, the U.S. Attorney's Office was criticized by the judge overseeing the case for the disclosure of grand jury testimony in a sentencing report; the issue was never referred for further ethical or legal investigation.<ref name="NYT20090720" /> The lottery executive went to jail. The D'Alessio and Bissell cases were each recognized as one of the top federal prosecutions in the country at the time by the US Department of Justice.

She served as deputy director from 1998 to 2001 in the Division of Criminal Justice, where she supervised prosecutions of a $40 million financial fraud and of David L. Smith, creator of the "Melissa" computer worm.<ref name="Record20090720" /> She taught legal research and writing at Rutgers School of Law–Newark from 2003 until November 2009. In 2005 Kim Guadagno was elected to Monmouth Beach's non-partisan governing body as one of its three Walsh Act commissioners.<ref name="Record20090720" />

===Monmouth County sheriff=== Elected the 75th sheriff of Monmouth County in 2007, succeeding Joseph Oxley, she became the first woman to serve in the post when she took office in 2008.<ref>Brodesser-Akner, Claude. [https://www.nj.com/politics/2017/05/whos_kim_guadagno_and_why_is_she_running_for_nj_go.html "Who is Kim Guadagno and why is she running to succeed Christie as N.J. governor?"], NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 5, 2017. Accessed September 13, 2023. "While considering running for a seat in the state Assembly in 2007, Monmouth County sheriff Joseph Oxley decided not to seek re-election to a fifth, three-year term, and he asked Guadagno to take his place on the ballot. She won, becoming Monmouth's 75th sheriff and the first woman to hold the post."</ref>

Guadagno served as the chief executive and administrative officer of Monmouth County's largest law enforcement agency with nearly 700 employees who serve in the Law Enforcement Division, the 1,328 bed maximum security correctional institution, the youth detention center, the Civil Division and the Public Safety and 911 Emergency Dispatch Center. During her time as sheriff, the office received the Department of Defense Pro Patria Award which recognizes employers for their extraordinary support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monmouthsheriff.org/files/2009%20May_September%20News.pdf|title=Monmouth County Sheriff's Office|access-date=July 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113124029/http://www.monmouthsheriff.org/files/2009%20May_September%20News.pdf|archive-date=November 13, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under her supervision, the office also received the "Six Star" simultaneous accreditation of the law enforcement division, the correctional facility, correctional healthcare and youth detention center from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office was the first out of 3,088 sheriff's offices in the United States to receive the award.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://co.monmouth.nj.us/documents/54/Project%20Lifesaver%20brochure.pdf |title=Brochure |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref>{{better source|date=September 2023}} The department was one of 11 accepted nationwide into the federal program established under Immigration and Nationality Act Section 287(g) which allowed corrections officers to check the immigration status of prisoners before they were released.<ref name="Record20090720" />

Sheriff Guadagno also expanded "Project Lifesaver," which uses bracelets with a radio-tracking device that allows sheriff's officers to locate persons with Alzheimer's disease or autism who wander or become lost.<ref name=":0" />{{better source|date=September 2023}}

===Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State=== On July 20, 2009, Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie chose Guadagno as his running mate, in the first New Jersey election to include voting for a lieutenant governor. Guadagno was selected over a number of other Republican women, including state senator Diane Allen and Bergen County clerk Kathleen Donovan.<ref name="StarLedger">Margolin, Josh; and Heininger, Claire. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/chris_christie_introduces_monm.html "Chris Christie introduces Monmouth Sheriff Kim Guadagno as GOP lieutenant gov. candidate"], ''The Star-Ledger'', July 20, 2009. Accessed July 21, 2009.</ref> Guadagno was not a well known political figure statewide in October 2009. According to Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind Poll, Guadagno's name recognition in New Jersey was low with only 15% of voters reporting that they were aware of her. Out of the New Jersey voters that knew of Guadagno, 4% reported having a "very favorable" or "somewhat favorable" opinion while 3% reported that they had a "very unfavorable" or "somewhat unfavorable" opinion of the prospective lieutenant governor.<ref>Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind Poll [http://publicmind.fdu.edu/namerecognition.pdf "PublicMind Name Recognition"]</ref> Christie and Guadagno defeated Jon Corzine and Loretta Weinberg on November 3, 2009.<ref name="CNNresults">Silverleib, Alan. [http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/03/2009.elections/index.html "CNN projects Republicans win governor races in Virginia, New Jersey"], CNN, November 3, 2009. Accessed November 3, 2009.</ref> thumb|Guadagno in 2010 Christie also appointed Guadagno New Jersey's secretary of state and charged her with overseeing economic development efforts and the streamlining of government regulations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.njherald.com/story/news/2009/12/17/christie-chooses-lieutenant-governor-as/4076753007/ |title=Christie chooses lieutenant governor as secretary of state |website=NJHerald.com |date=December 16, 2009}}</ref> She was sworn in on January 19, 2010 as lieutenant governor of New Jersey.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.delcotimes.com/2010/01/19/njs-new-governor-change-has-arrived/ |title=N.J.'s new governor: 'Change has arrived' |website=delcotimes.com|date=January 19, 2010}}</ref>

As the secretary of state, Guadagno was responsible for overseeing artistic, cultural, and historical programs within New Jersey, as well as volunteerism and community service projects within the state. She supervised multiple programs, including the State Archives, the state's research facility and repository for public records of historical value and the Division of Travel and Tourism, which is charged with promoting New Jersey as a premier travel destination.{{cn|date=September 2023}}

Additionally, Guadagno headed the Division of Elections and served as the chief elections official and chair of the Board of State Canvassers, which certifies election results for federal and state office elections and public questions. She oversaw the Division of Programs which includes the Governor's Office of Volunteerism, the New Jersey Commission on National and Community Service, the Office of Faith Based Initiatives and the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research, and Development.{{cn|date=September 2023}}

== Candidacy for governor == {{Main|2017 New Jersey gubernatorial election}}

Kim Guadagno was the 2017 Republican gubernatorial nominee, having won approximately 46.8% of the popular vote in the June 2017 statewide primary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/new-jersey-primary-elections|title=New Jersey Primary Results: Murphy Will Face Guadagno in Governor's Race|website=The New York Times|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref> She lost to Democrat Phil Murphy on November 7, 2017, garnering 42% to Murphy's 56%.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/new-jersey-general-elections|title=Election Results: Murphy Wins New Jersey Governor Race|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 20, 2017|access-date=2017-12-20}}</ref>

==Post-political career== In April 2018, Guadagno joined law firm Connell Foley as a partner working out of its Jersey City office.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://observer.com/2018/04/former-new-jersey-lt-gov-kim-guadagno-joins-connell-foley/|title=Former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno Joins Connell Foley|author=Christian Hetrick|date=27 April 2018|newspaper=Observer Media|access-date=5 April 2019}}</ref>

In May 2019, Guadagno became CEO and president of Fulfill NJ (formerly known as The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean County). During her two-year tenure at the foodbank, Guadagno closed a $1.5 million budget gap and managed a food delivery system during the COVID crisis. Her contract with the FoodBank was not renewed in May 2021 amid disputes with Monmouth County officials, including Shaun Golden, the chair of the county Republican Party.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.app.com/story/news/politics/monmouth-county/2021/04/23/guadagno-leaving-fulfill-food-bank-after-fight-monmouth-leaders/7350563002/|title = Guadagno leaving Fulfill food bank following clash with Monmouth County commissioners|work = Asbury Park Press|date = April 23, 2021|accessdate = July 22, 2021|last = Cervenka|first = Suzanne}}</ref> That July, Guadagno left the Republican Party and registered as an unaffiliated voter, reportedly due to her discontent with Golden.<ref name=ind>{{cite news|title=Kim Guadagno, Christie's Lt. Governor, leaves the Republican Party|url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/kim-guadagno-christies-lt-governor-leaves-the-republican-party/|date=22 July 2021|accessdate=22 July 2021|last=Wildstein|first=David}}</ref> Guadagno is now a partner at the law-firm of Connell Foley and the president and executive director of Mercy Center Corporation in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Mercy Center is a four star charity rated non-profit that feeds and services 3000 families in six counties and operates a tuition free, faith based middle school for girls in Asbury Park, New Jersey, mercycenternj.org. The agency’s vision is to end generational poverty one child and one family at a time.

==Controversies, issues and positions== ===Abortion=== Guadagno supports a pro-choice position on abortion but would like to see fewer women choose the option of abortion. She herself adopted a son. Guadagno's views on abortion contrast with Christie's pro-life stance on abortion.<ref name="NYT20090720">{{Cite news |last=Halbfinger |first=David M. |date=July 20, 2009 |title=New Jersey G.O.P. Candidate Picks Woman as His No. 2 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/nyregion/21ltgov.html |access-date=July 21, 2009 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JwrCVifKhY |title=GOP Presidential Candidate Chris Christie On A National Abortion Ban {{!}} The View |date=January 3, 2024 |publisher=The View |access-date=21 August 2024 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

===Arts Council allegations=== In early 2011, after reviewing a routine state audit of the prior administration's affairs, Guadagno publicly criticized the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for its sloppy handling of public art projects, implying that state funds may have been fraudulently awarded. An official state investigation ended in December 2011 with no finding of illegality. But, the insider contracts were cancelled, the money was returned and the director who awarded the insider contracts was replaced by the Council of the Arts.<ref>McGlone Kim (December 29, 2011). [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/after_7_months_nj_investigatio.html "7 months later, N.J. probe into allegedly fraudulent public art contracts comes up empty"]. ''Newark Star Ledger''.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/nj_to_investigate_3_arts_counc.html|title=N.J. to investigate 3 contracts awarded by state arts council|date=June 8, 2011}}</ref>

===Allegations of pension fraud=== While she was Monmouth County sheriff, in 2008, Guadagno hired Michael Donovan, a retired investigator with the county prosecutor's office, as her chief of law enforcement. Under state laws on "double dipping", anyone holding such a position must forego any public pension they are otherwise eligible to rec. Donovan became the chief warrant officer, in charge of serving legal process and arrest warrants, exempt from the pension system. <ref name="NJ Spotlight pensions story">{{cite news|last=Lagerkvist|first=Mark|title=State Shuts Door on Guadagno Pension-Fraud Probe, But Questions Remain|url=http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/01/05/state-shuts-door-on-guadagno-pension-fraud-probe-but-questions-remain/|newspaper=New Jersey Spotlight|date=January 5, 2016|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref>Guadagno argued this saved taxpayers' money<ref name="NJ Spotlight pensions story" />

Guadagno established that the state Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) had approved her actions. However, in 2011 the PFRS board, responding to allegations of pension fraud within sheriff's offices around the state, requested that the office of Attorney General Paula T. Dow review records of Donovan's hiring for possible "false and conflicting statements" by Guadagno, by then lieutenant governor. Instead of requesting a special prosecutor, Governor Christie referred the case to attorney general's Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ),<ref name="NJ Spotlight pensions story" /> which a year later concluded the investigation. An investigative reporter sued the state to release the records of the investigation; in early 2016 a court ordered DCJ to release some of those records but excluded a five-page document on Guadagno's role.<ref name="NJ Spotlight pensions story" />

===Hoboken Sandy funds=== On January 18, 2014, Mayor of Hoboken Dawn Zimmer, appearing on MSNBC,<ref>{{cite news|last=Kornacki|first=Steve|title=Christie camp held Sandy relief money hostage, mayor alleges|publisher=MSNBC|date=January 18, 2014|url = http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/mayor-christie-camp-held-sandy-money-hostage|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> claimed that Guadagno had pulled her aside in a supermarket parking lot and directly linked Hoboken's receipt of Sandy funding to the approval of a large proposed private development project that required substantial zoning changes to move forward. Mayor Zimmer then said that several days later Richard Constable, director of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs also insinuated to her that more Sandy relief funds would be released to the city if it approved the project in its northwest quadrant.<ref>{{cite news|last=Freidman|first=Matt|title=Hoboken mayor claims Christie administration held city's Sandy recovery funds 'hostage' to help developer|publisher=The Star-Ledger|date=January 18, 2014|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/hoboken_mayor_claims_christie_administration_held_citys_sandy_recovery_funds_hostage.html#incart_river|access-date = February 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Giambusso|first=David|author2=Baxter, Chris|title=Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer alleges Chris Christie's office withheld Sandy aid over development deal|publisher=The Star-Ledger|date=January 18, 2014|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/zimmer_christie_hoboken_scandal_allegations.html|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> The developer, the Rockefeller Group, has ties with Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Chief David Samson, a Christie appointee and close Christie associate. On February 22 the Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed members of the city's government and potential witnesses, who were instructed to preserve any evidence they might possess.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rashbaum|first=William K.|title=Hoboken Mayor is said to have told of threat|work=The New York Times|date=January 23, 2014|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/nyregion/hoboken-mayor-is-said-to-have-told-of-threat.html?_r=1|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> They were also asked by the office of United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Paul Fishman, to not discuss the matter publicly.<ref>{{cite web|last=Isikoff|first=Michael|title=FBI questions Hoboken mayor's aides over alleged Sandy relief funds threat: sources|work=NBC News|date=January 22, 2014|url=http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/22/22404789-fbi-questions-hoboken-mayors-aides-over-alleged-sandy-relief-funds-threat-sources?lite|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> On January 31, the city acknowledged that it had received subpoenas from that office.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hayes|first=Melissa|title=Christie scandal: Hoboken documents subpoenaed by U.S. attorney|publisher=The Record|date=January 31, 2014|url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/Christie_scandal_Hoboken_documents_subpoenaed_by_US_Attorney.html|access-date=February 14, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221145122/http://www.northjersey.com/news/Christie_scandal_Hoboken_documents_subpoenaed_by_US_Attorney.html|archive-date=February 21, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Freidman|first=Matt|title=U.S. Attorney subpoenas Hoboken in Hurricane Sandy funding investigation|publisher=The Star-Ledger|date=January 31, 2014|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/us_attorney_subpoenas_hoboken_in_hurricane_sandy_funding_investigation.html|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref>

After a 16-month investigation the US attorney for NJ concluded that Zimmer's claims were unfounded. In letters dated May 1, 2015, to Guadagno, Constable and Ferzan the US Attorney wrote: "Based on the evidence developed during the investigation and our review of applicable law, we have concluded that no further action is warranted in this matter. Accordingly, the investigation of these allegations have been closed."<ref name="njhob">{{cite web|last1=Sherman|first1=Ted|last2=Friedman|first2=Matt|title=Bridgegate investigators clear Christie administration in Hoboken development deal allegations|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/bridgegate_investigators_clear_christie_administat.html|website=nj.com|publisher=Advance Digital|date=May 1, 2015|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref>

===2010 vacation=== In December 2010, Guadagno went on a scheduled vacation with her father who was dying of prostate cancer, while Governor Christie later decided to go with his family to Disney World. With both officials out of state, a blizzard hit New Jersey and Stephen M. Sweeney, the senate president and a Democrat, had to preside as acting governor to declare a state of emergency. Guadagno and Christie were criticized for both being out of state at the same time.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bagli|first1=Charles V.|title=In Trenton, Emergency Puts Senator Back at Helm|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/28/nyregion/28njgov.html|access-date=November 2, 2017|work=New York Times|date=December 28, 2010|page=A21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Corasaniti|first=Nick|title=Guadagno, Hoping to Succeed Christie, Tries to Escape His Shadow|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/nyregion/guadagno-new-jersey-lieutenant-governor-christie.html|work=New York Times|date=November 2, 2017|page=A19|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref>

==Personal life== Guadagno moved to New Jersey in 1991 and has been a resident of Monmouth Beach, a borough in Monmouth County, since marrying Michael Guadagno in 1991. Her husband was a judge of the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division. He was appointed to the bench in 2005 by then-Governor Richard Codey, and elevated to the Appellate Division by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner in 2012.<ref name=GuadagnoJSC>[http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/pressrel/2012/pr120703e.htm "Judge Michael A. Guadagno Elevated to Appellate Division of Superior Court"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628023655/http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/pressrel/2012/pr120703e.htm |date=June 28, 2013 }}, July 3, 2012. Accessed August 8, 2012.</ref> The Guadagnos have three sons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njcth.org/PublicInnerPage/testfolder/Governor-s-Cabinet/Kim-Guadagno.aspx |title=Honorable Kim Guadagno |publisher=Njcth.org |access-date=May 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128174149/http://www.njcth.org/PublicInnerPage/testfolder/Governor-s-Cabinet/Kim-Guadagno.aspx |archive-date=January 28, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/chris_christie_picks_monmouth.html |title=Chris Christie picks Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno as running mate |date=July 20, 2009 |publisher=NJ.com |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/press/pdf/ltgov_guadagno_bio.pdf|title=Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno Biography}}</ref>

Judge Guadagno submitted his letter of resignation on January 26, 2017, in advance of reaching the mandatory judicial retirement age of 70 later that year.<ref name=Arco>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/02/read_the_note_michael_guadagno_sent_to_lieutenant.html|title=Read the one-of-a-kind resignation letter Kim Guadagno got from her own husband |last=Arco |first=Matt |publisher=NJ Advance Media|date=February 21, 2017 |access-date=March 17, 2017}}</ref> Because Lieutenant Governor Guadagno is also secretary of state and thereby receives resignation and retirement letters of New Jersey judges, Judge Guadagno's resignation letter was addressed to his wife in her personal as well as official capacity, referred her then-prospective run for the post of governor, and was signed "your loving husband".<ref name = Arco />

The Guadagnos have three sons. One of the three, Kevin, is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and is an F-35 fighter pilot. Another son, Michael, rowed crew at Dartmouth College.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dartmouthsports.com/sports/rowing/roster/michael-guadagno/10363 | title=Michael Guadagno - Men's Lightweight Rowing }}</ref>

== Electoral history == {{Election box begin|title=New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2017<ref>{{cite web|title=Official List, Candidates for Governor For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2017 Election|url=http://nj.gov/state/elections/2017-results/2017-official-general-election-results-governor.pdf|publisher=Secretary of State of New Jersey|access-date=November 29, 2017|date=November 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033629/http://nj.gov/state/elections/2017-results/2017-official-general-election-results-governor.pdf|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Phil Murphy|votes=1,203,110|percentage=56.03%|change={{increase}}17.84}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Kim Guadagno|votes=899,583|percentage=41.89%|change={{decrease}}18.41}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Gina Genovese|votes=12,294|percentage=0.57%|change=''N/A''}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Peter J. Rohrman|votes=10,531|percentage=0.49%|change={{decrease}} 0.08}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party (United States)|candidate=Seth Kaper-Dale|votes=10,053|percentage=0.47%|change={{increase}} 0.08}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Constitution Party (United States)|candidate=Matthew Riccardi|votes=6,864|percentage=0.32%|change=''N/A''}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Vincent Ross|votes=4,980|percentage=0.29%|change=''N/A''}} {{Election box total|votes=2,147,415|percentage=100.00%|change=''N/A''}} {{Election box gain with party link no swing|winner=Democratic Party (United States)|loser=Republican Party (United States)}} {{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results<ref name="PrimaryResults">{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2017/2017-official-primary-results-governor-0628.pdf |title=Official List - Candidates for Governor for Primary Election 06/06/2017 |publisher=Secretary of State of New Jersey |date=June 28, 2017 |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Finnigan|first1=Brandon|title=New Jersey Gubernatorial Primary (Republican)|url=https://decisiondeskhq.com/results/new-jersey-gubernatorial-primary-republican/|website=Decision Desk HQ|access-date=June 7, 2017|date=June 6, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Kim Guadagno|votes=113,846|percentage=46.70%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Jack Ciattarelli|votes=75,556|percentage=30.99%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Hirsh Singh|votes=23,728|percentage=9.73%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Joseph R. Rullo|votes=15,816|percentage=6.49%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Steven Rogers|votes=14,187|percentage=5.82%}} {{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=638|percentage=0.27%}} {{Election box total no change|votes=243,771|percentage=100.00%}} {{Election box end}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *{{C-SPAN|110246}} *{{Commons-inline}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Joseph Oxley}} {{s-ttl|title=Sheriff of Monmouth County|years=2008–2010}} {{s-aft|after=Shaun Golden}} |- {{s-new|office}} {{s-ttl|title=Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey|years=2010–2018}} {{s-aft|after=Sheila Oliver}} |- {{s-bef|before=Nina Wells}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary of State of New Jersey|years=2010–2018}} {{s-aft|after=Tahesha Way}} |- {{s-ppo}} {{s-new|first}} {{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey|years=2009, 2013}} {{s-aft|after=Carlos Rendo}} |- {{s-bef|before=Chris Christie}} {{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey|years=2017}} {{s-aft|after=Jack Ciattarelli}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guadagno, Kim}} Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American lawyers Category:21st-century American lawyers Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:American women lawyers Category:American women police officers Category:Candidates in the 2017 United States elections Category:Law enforcement officials from New Jersey Category:Lieutenant governors of New Jersey Category:Lawyers from Monmouth County, New Jersey Category:New Jersey independents Category:New Jersey Republicans Category:Sheriffs of Monmouth County, New Jersey Category:People from Monmouth Beach, New Jersey Category:Politicians from Waterloo, Iowa Category:Rutgers School of Law–Newark faculty Category:Secretaries of state of New Jersey Category:Ursinus College alumni Category:American University Washington College of Law alumni Category:Women in New Jersey politics Category:Women sheriffs Category:American women legal scholars Category:20th-century American legal scholars Category:20th-century American women lawyers Category:21st-century American legal scholars Category:21st-century American women lawyers