Sheila Oliver, New Jersey's acting governor while Phil Murphy's out of the country, dies suddenly of an undisclosed medical issue at 71

• When New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy left the country for vacation, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver took over his job.
• Oliver's cause of death has not been released.

When New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy left the state to vacation in Europe on July 28, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver took over his role as acting governor. Days later, on Tuesday, Oliver's family released a statement she had died.

"It is with incredible sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of the Honorable Sheila Y. Oliver, Lieutenant Governor of the State of New Jersey," her family said in a release. "She was not only a distinguished public servant but also our cherished daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and hero."

In a statement, the governor said choosing her as his running mate in 2017 was the "best decision" he ever made and that Oliver "brought a unique and invaluable perspective to our public policy discourse and served as an inspiration to millions of women and girls everywhere, especially young women of color."

New Jersey's state constitution dictates that the state senate president, in this case, Nick Scutari, will serve as acting governor until Murphy returns from his vacation in Italy.

As acting governor, Scutari, a Democrat, has all the same powers of a traditional governor.

Prior to becoming lieutenant governor, Oliver was the first Black female speaker of the state's general assembly.