By DAVID M. HALBFINGER, New York Times

Christopher J. Christie, the Republican candidate for governor of New Jersey, picked a running mate in his own image on Monday, choosing another former prosecutor with a hard-charging reputation both in pursuing corruption cases and in advancing her political career.

Mr. Christie, former United States attorney in New Jersey, named Kimberly M. Guadagno, the first woman elected sheriff of Monmouth County, as his choice for lieutenant governor.

The selection of Ms. Guadagno, 50, like Mr. Christie an outsider to Trenton, suggests that he will redouble his emphasis on reforming state government. In a video posted online Monday morning, he described their ticket as “two candidates who will not shy away from turning Trenton upside down.”

In the video, Ms. Guadagno also echoed Mr. Christie’s complaint about the New Jersey economy under the Democratic governor, Jon S. Corzine. She said she and her husband were raising three sons, but “unfortunately, because of the economy today, they’re not going to be able to stay” in New Jersey.

“They’re going to have to go and find opportunities elsewhere, because this state is broken,” she said.

The Christie campaign may be gambling that Ms. Guadagno will help him with women and others who support abortion rights. While Mr. Christie declared in the Republican primary that he opposed abortion, Ms. Guadagno said Monday that she supported a woman’s right to choose an abortion, though she sees a need to reduce the number performed in New Jersey.

The election for New Jersey’s governor and lt. governor will be held on November 3, 2009.  Current governor, John Corzine, has not yet selected his lt. governor running mate.