Mike Sorrentino, known as “The Situation” from the MTV reality series Jersey Shore, has indicated he is considering launching a candidacy for governor of New Jersey.
The announcement came during an appearance at a VUE Magazine spring edition launch party in Wall Township on May 2, where Sorrentino and his wife, Lauren, appeared on the cover.
Sorrentino, 44, stated that he plans to pause his reality television career to focus on expanding Archangel Centers, the addiction recovery facilities he co-founded with his wife in 2024. He outlined a timeline of three to five years dedicated to growing the network before pursuing public office.
“I’d like to save lives for the next three to five years with Archangels Centers,” he said. “I’d like to have an Archangels center in every 50 states [sic], and after that, you know, I will introduce everybody to Governor Situation.”
Sorrentino has not filed any official paperwork, nor has he specified which political party, if any, he would like to run under. New Jersey’s next gubernatorial election is scheduled for 2029, when current Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, is expected to stand for re-election.
When asked about running as a Democrat or Republican, he responded, “I can’t announce it yet, but I think the residents of New Jersey would like no property tax.”
Property taxes in New Jersey are among the highest in the United States, a frequent point of discussion in state politics. Sorrentino’s comments highlighted this issue as one that could appeal to voters, though he provided no detailed policy platform at the event.
Jersey Shore star Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino says he’s thinking about running for New Jersey governor
“I think the residents of New Jersey would like no property tax.” pic.twitter.com/OVDpeydluM
— internet hall of fame (@InternetH0F) June 3, 2026
Sorrentino rose to prominence on Jersey Shore, which aired from 2009 to 2012 and returned for Jersey Shore: Family Vacation seasons through 2026. The notably raunchy reality show followed a group of young adults through drunken, sex-fueled escapades, as well as their drama-laden beach house in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.
After the original series, Sorrentino faced personal and legal challenges, including treatment for prescription painkiller addiction and an eight-month federal prison sentence for tax evasion related to unreported income from his fame. He has described his recovery as a central part of his current work.
Archangel Centers opened its first location in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and he has expressed goals of nationwide expansion. In public statements, Sorrentino has framed his efforts around helping others with addiction. “I didn’t get anything I prayed for until I became the kind of person who could receive it. I put in the work, never gave up, and now my story is someone else’s roadmap to survival,” he wrote in an earlier Instagram post announcing the centers.
