The New Jersey governor race has been on everyone’s minds for this election year since current governor, Phil Murphy (D) cannot seek a third consecutive term. This opens the flood gates for anyone to run to replace Murphy. However only two candidates were officially nominated in their respective parties. The Republican Party nominated former NJ General Assembly representing the 16th District, Jack Ciatterelli. While as the Democratic Party has nominated current Congresswoman, Mikie Sherrill, a former US navy member. Both candidates have blueprints of their visions for the state, but do not share the same ideas.
According to the official website, Sherril’s platform focuses on affordable housing, healthcare costs, abortion and reproductive rights, early childhood, education, transportation, energy costs and the environment, public safety and justice, working families and labor, and transparency and accountability.
As for the official website for Citarrelli’s platform includes making New Jersey affordable again, reforming government so it works for the people, encouraging participation in fair & honest elections, restoring law and order, and respect for law enforcement, stopping suburban sprawl and advancing smart housing policy, promoting educational opportunities for all children, making energy policy affordable — and realistic again, modernizing New Jersey’s approach to transportation, finding common ground on abortion rights, demanding affordable and accessible healthcare, and prioritizing qualifications, not “partisanship” on the Supreme Court.
According to a poll from FDU, 47% of voters are for Sherril, and 45% for Ciatararelli prior to the election. According to the New York Times, it is 48% to Sherrill, and 47% to Ciatarrelli as of October 28th, 2025. A poll conducted by Quinnipiac shows 49% would vote for Sherrill, and 41% for Citarrelli. The other 10% had no opinion. If Jack Ciatarrelli were to win, New Jersey would potentially become a swing state, while as if Sherrill wins, New Jersey will keep the tradition of having more Democrat governors rather than Republican governors. The last Republican governor that New Jersey had was Chris Christie, from January 19th, 2010 through January 15th, 2018.
Following the November 4th, 2025 election, the results are in. The Governor-Elect, Mikie Sherrill won. Her opponent, Jack Ciatarrelli conceded. The day after her victory, Sherrill met with the current governor, Phil Murphy to discuss the future of New Jersey. The election was very contested overall with New Jerseyans voting for who they believed to be the better candidate. Roughly a total of 5 counties back to blue during this race according to NJ.com. Prior to four years ago, they were all won by Citarrelli. Sherril won the state with a total of 1,850,891 votes and her opponent, Jack Citarrelli earned 1,398,273 votes according to CNN. While third-party candidates like Vic Kaplan of the Libertarian Party won 11,580 votes, and Joanne Kuniasky of the Socialist Worker’s Party earned 7,898 votes. Furthermore, it was a very competitive race, and it was predicted prior to the elections according to multiple polls that Sherrill would win the state. Mikie Sherrill will take office on January 20, 2026.
