New Jersey Republicans and Democrats will decide today on their respective nominees for governor, in what is expected to be a contentious 2025 general election.
Early voting in the Garden State primaries began June 3, a week out from election day. New Jersey is one of two states hosting a high-stakes gubernatorial contest this year.
But unlike Virginia − the other off-year race state, where this year both the Republican and Democratic nominee for governor became official in April ahead of any primary − New Jersey’s candidate field is packed on both sides.
There are five Republicans on the ballot, though former state assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is widely seen as the favorite to win. He comes into Tuesday evening with President Donald Trump’s full-throated endorsement.
Among Democrats, Rep. Mikie Sherrill leads the pack of six by a slight polling margin. She faces competitors like Newark mayor Ras Baraka and fellow member of Congress Josh Gottheimer.
Mikie Sherrill leads Democratic pack
Rep. Mikie Sherrill is the frontrunner coming into Tuesday evening.
In a May poll by Emerson College and The Hill, Sherrill was ahead with 28% of voters’ support.
She faces Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and fellow member of Congress Josh Gottheimer, all of whom were sitting at 11% support in last month’s poll.
New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller and former state Sen. President Steve Sweeney are also in the running.
— Savannah Kuchar
N.J. may set stage for new Democratic brand
This race is particularly important for national Democrats because it will be the first major competitive primary since their shattering defeat in the 2024 presidential race.
A poll conducted by Emerson College in May found among registered Democratic voters, Sherrill had a solid lead with 28%, but another 24% were undecided.
In the last weeks of the race she has faced attack ads for accepting donations linked from a corporate PAC tied to SpaceX, which is owned by Trump “frienemy” Elon Musk.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has pitched himself as the candidate most willing to take on Trump. He was thrust into the national spotlight in May after a confrontation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a federal facility
But if electability remains a worry then N.J. Democrats may bet on a safer choice such as U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who co-founded a bipartisan group dubbed the “Problem Solvers Caucus” that tries to sniff out consensus in Congress.
Others in the race, such as Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, are looking for an opening, too. He’s been running as a “pragmatic progressive” for voters fed up with the state’s political machine.
— Phillip M. Bailey
Why isn’t Phil Murphy running?
Current New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, is term-limited and cannot run again in this year’s race.
Murphy has served as top official in the state since 2018 and will conclude his second consecutive term next January.
His absence from the race leaves the contest wide open for either party to claim the governor’s mansion.
Trump gives former opponent his ‘complete and total endorsement’
The president first announced his support for Ciattarelli in a Truth Social post on May 12.
“Jack Ciattarelli is a terrific America First Candidate running to be the next Governor of a State that I love, NEW JERSEY!” Trump wrote. “Jack, who after getting to know and understand MAGA, has gone ALL IN, and is now 100%”
The two have not always been the best of buds publicly. In 2015, Ciattarelli called Trump a “charlatan.” Then in his second campaign for governor in 2021, he kept the then-former president at arm’s length.
Bygones appear to be bygones, though. Trump told voters in a telephone rally on June 2 Ciattarelli “is the most experienced and battle-tested” candidate.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Live updates: New Jersey primaries decide candidates for governor
