The 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2025, to elect the governor of New Jersey. Democratic U.S. representative Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican former nominee Jack Ciattarelli. Sherrill succeeded Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy, who was term-limited and thus ineligible to seek a third term.
Primary elections were held on June 10, 2025. Sherrill won the Democratic nomination with 34% of the vote over a field of candidates that included Newark mayor Ras Baraka and Jersey City mayor Steven Fulop. Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee in 2021, won his second consecutive nomination with almost 68% of the vote over radio talk show host Bill Spadea.
After strong Republican performances in the state in 2021 and 2024, many analysts expected a close race. Some polls suggested the election was a toss-up. However, Sherrill outperformed expectations and won with a decisive 14.36% margin of victory, slightly larger than Murphy's 14.14% margin in 2017. This election was the widest Democratic margin since 2001, and the highest vote share for a Democratic nominee since 1989. Sherrill was the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate to win Morris County since 1973. Sherrill also lost Hunterdon County by single digits, which is the narrowest Republican margin since 1977. Both Sherrill and Ciattarelli obtained the most votes cast in any New Jersey gubernatorial election, and this election had the highest turnout since 1997.
Sherrill was sworn in as the 57th governor of New Jersey on January 20, 2026. She became the second female governor in New Jersey history, the first Democratic female governor in New Jersey history, and the first female military veteran to serve as governor of a U.S. state. This election was the first New Jersey gubernatorial election since 1961 in which either party won the governorship for three consecutive terms.
The 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2025, to elect the governor of New Jersey. Democratic U.S. representative Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican former nominee Jack Ciattarelli. Sherrill succeeded Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy, who was term-limited and thus ineligible to seek a third term.
Primary elections were held on June 10, 2025. Sherrill won the Democratic nomination with 34% of the vote over a field of candidates that included Newark mayor Ras Baraka and Jersey City mayor Steven Fulop. Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee in 2021, won his second consecutive nomination with almost 68% of the vote over radio talk show host Bill Spadea.
After strong Republican performances in the state in 2021 and 2024, many analysts expected a close race. Some polls suggested the election was a toss-up. However, Sherrill outperformed expectations and won with a decisive 14.36% margin of victory, slightly larger than Murphy's 14.14% margin in 2017. This election was the widest Democratic margin since 2001, and the highest vote share for a Democratic nominee since 1989. Sherrill was the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate to win Morris County since 1973. Sherrill also lost Hunterdon County by single digits, which is the narrowest Republican margin since 1977. Both Sherrill and Ciattarelli obtained the most votes cast in any New Jersey gubernatorial election, and this election had the highest turnout since 1997.
Sherrill was sworn in as the 57th governor of New Jersey on January 20, 2026. She became the second female governor in New Jersey history, the first Democratic female governor in New Jersey history, and the first female military veteran to serve as governor of a U.S. state. This election was the first New Jersey gubernatorial election since 1961 in which either party won the governorship for three consecutive terms.
Background
New Jersey has long been considered a blue state, consistently voting Democratic at the federal level since 1992 and generally voting Democratic at the state level as well. Republicans have not won a statewide election in New Jersey since the 2013 gubernatorial election, but recent statewide, especially gubernatorial, elections have been notably competitive.
In 2021, Governor Murphy was re-elected by a 3.2% margin, considerably down from his 14.1% margin of victory in 2017. A similar rightward shift was seen at the presidential level in 2024, when Democrat Kamala Harris won New Jersey by 5.9%, considerably down from 2020, when Joe Biden won New Jersey by 15.9%. Harris had the worst performance in New Jersey of any Democratic nominee since 1992, with Donald Trump becoming the first Republican nominee to lose New Jersey by just single digits since 2004.
Most polls, analysts and ratings showed Sherrill to be the favorite, although the polls narrowed beginning in mid-September.
This election was considered to be an indicator of the popularity of Donald Trump's second presidency in the state. Until 2021, New Jersey had elected a governor of the opposite party of the sitting president of the United States in every election since 1989. Until this election, New Jersey had not elected the same party to the governor's office for more than two consecutive terms since 1961.
In October 2025, the Trump administration announced that the Department of Justice would deploy election monitors to polling sites in California and New Jersey ahead of the November 4 elections. The administration cited concerns raised by Republican officials about alleged voting irregularities. Democratic leaders in both states criticized the move as politically motivated voter intimidation, while the department said the monitors would ensure transparency and compliance with federal law.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Mikie Sherrill, U.S. representative from New Jersey's 11th congressional district (2019–2025)
Eliminated in primary
Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark
Steven Fulop, mayor of Jersey City and candidate for New Jersey's 13th congressional district in 2004
Running mate: Sheena Collum, mayor of South Orange
Josh Gottheimer, U.S. representative for New Jersey's 5th congressional district (2017–present)
Sean Spiller, president of the New Jersey Education Association (2021–present) and former mayor of Montclair (2020–2024)
Stephen Sweeney, former president of the New Jersey Senate (2010–2022) from the 3rd district (2002–2022)
Declined
Cory Booker, U.S. senator (2013–present) and candidate for president in 2020 (running for re-election in 2026)
Endorsements
Ras Baraka
Bonnie Watson Coleman, NJ-12 (2015–present)
LaMonica McIver, NJ-10 (2024–present)
DeForest Soaries, former New Jersey secretary of state (1999–2002) (Republican)
Regena Thomas, former New Jersey secretary of state (2002–2006)
A'Dorian Murray-Thomas, Essex County commissioner (2024–present)
Donna Pearson, former Cumberland County commissioner
2 Mercer County commissioners
Lorenzo Langford, former mayor of Atlantic City (2002–2006, 2008–2014)
13 other mayors
Joey Novick, former Hunterdon County Democratic chair
Lawrence Hamm, activist
Rutgers AAUP–AFT
SEIU 32BJ
Workers United Laundry, Distribution and Food Service Joint Board
CAIR Action NJ
Emgage Action
Make the Road Action
New Jersey Citizen Action
Progressive Change Campaign Committee (co-endorsement with Fulop)
Sunrise Movement New Jersey
Working Families Party
Steven Fulop
Angela V. McKnight, senator from LD-31 (2024–present)
Nicholas Sacco, senator from LD-32 (1994–2024) and mayor of North Bergen (1991–present)
9 state assemblymembers
Ernest Coursey, Atlantic County commissioner from the 1st district (2014–present)
Tom Pullion, Burlington County commissioner (2018–present)
Frank Schillari, Hudson County sheriff (2011–present)
Reed Gusciora, mayor of Trenton (2018–present)
Eldridge Hawkins Jr., former mayor of Orange (2008–2012)
Jerramiah Healy, former mayor of Jersey City (2004–2013)
Bret Schundler, former mayor of Jersey City (1992–2001) (Republican)
Marty Small Sr., mayor of Atlantic City (2019–present)
33 other mayors
Tom Palmieri, former Warren County Democratic chair
Anthony Vainieri, former Hudson County Democratic chair
Matthew Yglesias, journalist (co-endorsement with Gottheimer and Sherrill)
Amalgamated Transit Union
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees District 1199J
Hotel and Gaming Trades Council
4 International Brotherhood of Teamsters chapters
SMART Transportation Division Local 60
College Democrats of America
College Democrats of New Jersey
Progressive Change Campaign Committee (co-endorsement with Baraka)
SOMA Action
The Philadelphia Inquirer(Democratic primary only)
Josh Gottheimer
Ed Case, HI-01 (2019–present)
Jared Golden, ME-02 (2019–present)
Susie Lee, NV-03 (2019–present)
Kathy Manning, NC-06 (2021–2025)
Jared Moskowitz, FL-23 (2023–present)
Jimmy Panetta, CA-19 (2017–present)
Albio Sires, NJ-08 (2006–2023) and mayor of West New York (1995–2006, 2023–present) (switched endorsement to Sherrill)
Tom Suozzi, NY-03 (2017–2023, 2024–present)
Ritchie Torres, NY-15 (2021–present)
Gordon Johnson, senator from LD-37 (2022–present)
Joe Lagana, senator from LD-38 (2018–present)
Paul Sarlo, senator from LD-36 (2003–present)
Brian Stack, senator from LD-33 (2008–present) and mayor of Union City (2000–present) (switched endorsement to Sherrill)
Gary Schaer, senator from LD-36 (2006-present)
5 state assemblymembers
Anthony Cureton, Bergen County sheriff
Craig Guy, Hudson County executive (2024–present) and Hudson County Democratic chair (switched endorsement to Sherrill)
John Hogan, Bergen County clerk
Dennis McNerney, former Bergen County executive (2003–2011)
Jim Tedesco, Bergen County executive (2015–present)
8 Bergen County commissioners
Elie Katz, former mayor of Teaneck (2006–2008, 2016)
Mark Sokolich, mayor of Fort Lee (2008–present)
Michael Wildes, mayor of Englewood (2004–2010, 2019–present)
30 other mayors
Paul Juliano, Bergen County Democratic chair
Louis Stellato, former Bergen County Democratic chair
Abraham Foxman, former director of the Anti-Defamation League
Steven Van Zandt, musician
Matthew Yglesias, journalist (co-endorsement with Fulop and Sherrill)
Bergen County Democratic Committee
Warren County Democratic Committee
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825
New Jersey State Council of Machinists
Lakewood Vaad (Democratic primary only)
American Hindu Coalition
The Jewish Voice(Democratic primary only)
Mikie Sherrill
Elissa Slotkin, Michigan (2025–present)
Jason Crow, CO-06 (2019–present)
Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06 (2019–present)
Tom Malinowski, NJ-07 (2019–2023) and Hunterdon County Democratic chair (2024–present)
Sarah McBride, DE-AL (2025–present)
Frank Pallone, NJ-06 (1988–present)
Albio Sires, NJ-08 (2006–2023) and mayor of West New York (1995–2006, 2023–present) (previously endorsed Gottheimer)
Abigail Spanberger, VA-07 (2019–2025)
Richard Codey, former governor of New Jersey (2002, 2004–2006)
Jon Corzine, former governor of New Jersey (2006–2010)
Janet Mills, governor of Maine (2019–present)
Linda Greenstein, senator from LD-14 (2010–present)
John McKeon, senator from LD-27 (2024–present)
Brian Stack, senator from LD-33 (2008–present) and mayor of Union City (2000–present) (previously endorsed Gottheimer)
Teresa Ruiz, senate majority leader (2022–present) from LD-29 (2008–present)
5 state assemblymembers
Thomas Adamo, Passaic County sheriff (2025–present)
Dan Benson, Mercer County executive (2024–present)
Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., Essex County executive (2003–present)
Chris Durkin, Essex County clerk (2006–present)
Craig Guy, Hudson County executive (2024–present) and Hudson County Democratic chair (previously endorsed Gottheimer)
Danielle Ireland-Imhof, Passaic County clerk (2019–present)
Amir Jones, Essex County sheriff (2025–present)
Jack Kemler, Mercer County sheriff (2010–present)
Juan Rivera, Essex County register of deeds (2020–present)
Paula Sollami-Covello, Mercer County clerk (2006–present)
8 Essex County commissioners
3 Mercer County commissioners
3 Passaic County commissioners
Andre Sayegh, mayor of Paterson (2018–present)
23 other mayors
Janice Mironov, Mercer County Democratic chair and mayor of East Windsor
Billie Jean King, former professional tennis player
Matthew Yglesias, journalist (co-endorsement with Fulop and Gottheimer)
Essex County Democratic Committee
Hudson County Democratic Committee
Hunterdon County Democratic Committee
Mercer County Democratic Committee
Middlesex County Democratic Committee
Monmouth County Democratic Committee
Morris County Democratic Committee
Passaic County Democratic Committee
Sussex County Democratic Committee
Union County Democratic Committee
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 194
Laborers' Union
National Association of Government Employees
New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association
Elect Democratic Women
EMILYs List
Latina Civic PAC
New Jersey League of Conservation Voters
Passaic County Young Democrats
Sierra Club
With Honor Fund
Stephen Sweeney
Herb Conaway, NJ-03 (2025–present)
Donald Norcross, NJ-01 (2014–present)
Joe Roberts, former assembly speaker (2006–2010) from LD-05 (1987–2010)
6 state senators
15 other state assemblymembers
Chuck Billingham, Camden County sheriff (2025–present)
Caren Fitzpatrick, former at-large Atlantic County commissioner (2018–2024)
James Hogan, Gloucester County clerk
James Kostoplis, Burlington County sheriff
Pamela Rosen Lampitt, Camden County clerk (2025–present)
Carmel Morina, Gloucester County sheriff
Joseph Ripa, former Camden County clerk
Joanne Schwartz, Burlington County clerk
Whip Wilson, former Camden County sheriff (2015–2025)
2 Burlington County commissioners
6 Camden County commissioners
5 Gloucester County commissioners
3 Salem County commissioners
52 mayors
County Democratic chairs for Atlantic, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem
George Norcross, former Democratic National Committee member
Atlantic County Democratic Committee
Burlington County Democratic Committee
Camden County Democratic Committee
Cumberland County Democratic Committee
Gloucester County Democratic Committee
Salem County Democratic Committee
Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (candidate's employer)
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers Local 28
5 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers chapters
International Longshoremen's Association
New Jersey Roofers Unions
New Jersey State Building Trades Council
Sheet Metal Workers New Jersey State Council
Southern New Jersey Central Labor Council
Teamsters Joint Council 53
UNITE HERE Locals 54 & 100
Lieutenant gubernatorial nomination
Nominee
Dale Caldwell, president of Centenary University (2023–present) and former New Brunswick school board member (1998–2024)
Considered but not selected
Samuel Delgado, vice chair of the New Jersey State Cannabis Regulatory Commission and husband of state assemblymember Yvonne Lopez
Shavar Jeffries, former assistant attorney general (2008–2010) and candidate for mayor of Newark in 2014
Jim Johnson, former U.S. under secretary of the Treasury for Enforcement (1998–2001) and candidate for governor in 2017
Carlos Medina, president of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
Lamont Repollet, president of Kean University (2020–present) and former New Jersey commissioner of education (2018–2020)
Declined to be considered
Troy Singleton, state senator from the 7th district (2018–present)
Benjie Wimberly, state senator from the 35th district (2025–present)
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Jack Ciattarelli, former state assemblyman from the 16th district (2011–2018), nominee for governor in 2021, and candidate in 2017