By Zoe Papadakis | Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 1:26 PM EDT
Reality television star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino is eyeing a future run for New Jersey governor.
Mike Sorrentino discussed his political ambitions at a Vue magazine launch party in Wall Township, where he and his wife, Lauren Sorrentino, were featured as cover stars, the New York Post reported.
The “Jersey Shore” alum stated he plans to pivot to public office after expanding Archangels, his drug and alcohol rehabilitation center business based in Tinton Falls.
“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,” Mike Sorrentino said.
A potential bid could position him to challenge New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill when voters head to the polls in 2029.
While Mike Sorrentino did not disclose a party affiliation, he suggested a key policy position, saying, “I think the residents of New Jersey would like no property tax.”
Mike Sorrentino’s business background includes his current recovery venture as well as past financial challenges. Before opening the Tinton Falls rehabilitation facility, his business ventures included Boca Tanning Club, a tanning salon.
According to NJ.com, that business closed after owing $32,000 in back rent.
He also faced major legal troubles following his initial television fame, when he was charged with failing to pay taxes on $8.9 million. He subsequently admitted to tax evasion and served an eight-month sentence in federal prison.
His current focus on rehabilitation centers stems from his public struggle with drug addiction.
Mike Sorrentino achieved sobriety in 2015 after years of substance abuse. He detailed the severity of his dependence in his memoir, “Reality Check: Making the Best of the Situation.”
“I was stuck and feeling worse by the day,” he wrote in the book cited by People. “I tried to mask the inevitable dope sickness with copious amounts of alcohol since that was not only easy to get but socially acceptable and encouraged. To an extent, it worked, but I was a ticking timebomb.”
His recovery network launched last November with the opening of its first center.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mike Sorrentino linked his personal survival to his business goals.
“Many years ago I vowed that one day I would have the strength and resources to help those that are still suffering from the disease of addiction like I once was and here we are,” he said.
Mike Sorrentino first rose to fame as part of MTV’s reality series “Jersey Shore,” which ran from 2009 to 2012 and chronicled the cast’s party-centric lifestyle. He later returned to the franchise for its 2018 revival, “Jersey Shore Family Vacation.”
Zoe Papadakis is a journalist based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment.
