Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli have secured their respective parties’ nominations for governor of New Jersey, as reported by NBC News. Their victories set the stage for one of the year’s most anticipated electoral contests.
New Jersey’s gubernatorial election is one of only two taking place this year and could provide early insights into voter sentiment as President Donald Trump begins his second term.
Sherrill distinguished herself from five other Democratic contenders by positioning herself as the most electable candidate, particularly after her party’s disappointing performance in the state during the last presidential election. She emphasized her willingness to confront Trump, leveraging her background as a former Navy helicopter pilot to connect with voters. “It’s going to take a strong voice to cut through the noise from Washington and deliver for the people. So I stand here tonight doing just that. And as a mom of four teenagers, you guys know I’m not going to put up with the incompetent, whiny nonsense coming from aggrieved MAGA Republicans,” Sherrill declared at her victory rally.
She further invoked George Washington, saying, “You probably can’t do better than to quote George Washington at this moment: Fix the bayonets, I’m resolved to take Trenton.”
On the Republican side, Ciattarelli, backed by Trump’s endorsement, triumphed over four other candidates, promoting himself as the ally of Trump most likely to secure a win in the typically Democratic-leaning state come November. He narrowly missed winning against Democratic Governor Phil Murphy in 2021, and during his acceptance speech, he described Sherrill as “Phil Murphy 2.0.” Ciattarelli articulated a vision for a more inclusive GOP, aiming to end years of Democratic governance in New Jersey. “We made a strong statement about what the New Jersey Republican Party stands for: A party open to anyone and everyone who is willing to work hard and play by the rules; a party of Jersey values and common sense policies; a party that believes our best days are ahead of us if, if we have the courage to think big and act boldly,” he noted.
In the Democratic primary, Sherrill outperformed notable opponents including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop. Despite strong competition, she consistently led in public polling as millions of dollars flooded local networks. As votes were counted, Sherrill emerged with over a third of the support, commanding a significant lead of more than ten points over Fulop.
Notably, Sherrill gained momentum in Essex County, a crucial area with a high concentration of registered Democrats, where county endorsements bolstered her campaign. She obtained approximately 43% of the mail-in ballots, outpacing Baraka and Fulop by a considerable margin. Her fundraising prowess and support from the One Giant Leap PAC, which promoted her in the campaign’s final stretch, also contributed to her success, which some critics tied to the state’s Democratic establishment.
Sherrill emphasized her military service and her record in flipping a Republican-held House district in 2018 to persuade voters on her competence. “Ruthless competence is what people in New Jersey want to see in government,” she remarked to NBC News.
On the Republican side, Ciattarelli leveraged Trump’s endorsement as he faced contenders like former radio host Bill Spadea and state Senator Jon Bramnick. He won decisively, garnering over two-thirds of the support. Spadea trailed significantly with 22%.
Trump’s endorsement, reinforced during a tele-rally as early voting began, emphasized Ciattarelli’s potential to “help us with a win this November and send a powerful message to the entire country that New Jersey is turning red.” Despite some criticism from Spadea regarding his past comments about Trump, the former president publicly supported Ciattarelli, stating he is “100%” MAGA and the best candidate for the upcoming election.
As both candidates look ahead to the general election, they have begun exchanging barbs over key issues, including Trump’s domestic policy and decisions impacting states. Sherrill has made an attempt to link Ciattarelli closely to Trump, reminding voters of the former president’s defeats in New Jersey, where he lost by six points last November and by sixteen points in 2020.
Sherrill’s recent ad warns, “MAGA’s coming for New Jersey with Trump-endorsed Republican Jack Ciattarelli,” and she has claimed in debates that Ciattarelli will not oppose Trump on substantive matters.
With Ciattarelli pledging to campaign alongside Trump, his approach in a historically Democratic state raises questions about how he will distance himself from the former president’s controversial legacy, while addressing critical state issues like affordability, public safety, education, and overdevelopment. “Last time I checked, this was a race for governor,” Ciattarelli stated. “And so what is it that President Trump has to do with those windmills of our Jersey Shore? What does he have to do with the fact that we have the highest property tax in the nation?”
He concluded with a pointed statement about accountability, asserting, “They broke it, they own it,” referring to the current Democratic governance of the state.