NJ Gubernatorial Primary Race Paves Way For November Face-Off

By: Jordan Coll

A competitive gubernatorial primary race reached its close Tuesday night. Out of a crowded field of 11 candidates, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) and former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R) emerged as the winners, making significant headway in the Garden State political arena.

Progressive candidates Ras Baraka and Steve Fulop, however, put up a fight, as they garnered over 280,000 votes total and surpassed centrist Sherrill’s nearly 270,000-vote turnout.

New Jersey is one of only two states, along with Virginia, holding a governor’s race this year—an election that often reflects national political trends. Historically, the president’s party tends to lose ground in these off-year contests, making both races closely watched indicators of public sentiment.

“Tough, tough, tough night, first time ever experiencing this,” said Fulop, who is closing his third term as Jersey City mayor and conceded the race for governor Tuesday night at Zeppelin Hall. “The state is at a crossroads, and although tonight wasn’t what we wanted, it’s important that we work hard to make sure a Democrat gets elected in November.”

Sherrill, 53, has built her political brand on a biography that blends military service, legal experience, and suburban appeal. She won 15 of the state’s 21 counties, according to preliminary results.

A former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, Sherrill first captured national attention in 2018 when she flipped a longtime Republican stronghold, effectively ending the congressional career of Republican Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen and defeating his would-be successor, Assemblyman Jay Webber.

Baraka, who is the mayor of Newark,  came in second, with nearly 100,000 votes away from Sherrill. “We did a hell of a job,” said Baraka to a crowd of supporters at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark last night. “This isn’t the end. New Jersey is about to experience a new day.” 

The mayor was also the subject of national news headlines last month, when he was arrested by ICE agents at Delaney Hall, a privately held immigration detention center in Newark and charged for trespassing. The charges for Baraka have been dropped by the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. 

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5th), a prominent figure in New Jersey’s congressional delegation, campaigned on a message centered around affordability, vowing to tackle the state’s notoriously high taxes–he received 12% of voter support.

Former State Senate President Steve Sweeney, the lone Democratic candidate from South Jersey, positioned himself as a champion for organized labor and a voice for a region he says is too often overlooked in statewide politics. He also finished last with a 7% voter support.

Sean Spiller, president of the New Jersey Education Association and former mayor of Montclair, entered the race with significant financial backing—his union has poured $40 million into supporting his campaign, making him one of the best-funded contenders in the field. He finished the race with 11% of the votes.

Despite Democratic dominance in New Jersey’s congressional delegation and state Legislature, the governor’s office may shift political undertones, as no party has held the governorship for more than two consecutive terms since 1961, underscoring a potential opening for a Republican candidate once Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy leaves office. 

On the Republican slate, Ciattarelli secured his nomination as the Republican nominee for the governor’s election this November, with over 300,000 votes favoring his campaign, or 67.8%.

Riding the momentum of a primary win over four GOP rivals, Ciattarelli presented himself not just as a Trump-endorsed candidate, but as a pragmatic contender with broad appeal in a blue-leaning state.

“Jack Ciattarelli is a WINNER, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN,” President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, announcing his endorsement last month. “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, ELECT JACK CIATTARELLI!”

In a fiery victory speech, he criticized Sherrill, drawing parallels between her and Murphy, whom he nearly unseated in 2021. Ciattarelli called for a refreshed Republican vision, one that could unite voters across party lines and shift the balance of power in Trenton.

“Thank you, New Jersey! Because of you, we won all 21 counties with a clear and convincing victory,” posted Ciattarelli on the day of the Primary race. “This campaign has always been about people, not politics–about vision, not division.”

Bill Spadea, who came in second place on the Republican side, secured 99,456 or 21.9% of the vote, according to AP election polling results.

He is also a former radio personality and Republican candidate for governor, who sparked controversy after downplaying the political impact of abortion in the upcoming general election. 

He argued that Democrats would use the issue as a diversion to avoid addressing what he sees as the state’s most pressing challenges: rising living costs, public safety, transportation infrastructure, and immigration. 

Other Republican candidates in the mix were State Sen. John Bramnick (R-Union) with a 6.2%, followed by Mario Kranjac, who is the former mayor of Englewood Cliffs wrapped up with a 2.7% of the GOP vote.

 In last place, Justin Barbera, a Burlington County contractor, had a 2.7% voter support.

Now Ciattarelli and Sherrill are set to face each other this coming November for the governor’s seat in New Jersey as the rest of the country watches.