Sherrill Wins New Jersey Gubernatorial Race
U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill won the New Jersey gubernatorial race against Republican Jack Ciatarelli, primarily focusing her campaign on President Trump. Despite starting as the clear frontrunner with nearly a ten-point lead in early polls, the competition tightened as the election approached, leading Democrats to invest heavily in her campaign.
Ultimately, Sherrill secured a significant victory, garnering 61% of the counted votes, while Ciatarelli received 42.5%. This election was among the most closely observed off-year elections of 2025, especially given the Republicans’ recent gains in what had been considered a Democratic stronghold.
As polling numbers tightened towards the end of the campaign, the national Democratic Party felt the pressure, investing about $19 million to bolster Sherrill’s efforts. Prominent figures like former President Barack Obama and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro were involved in her campaign during the crucial final stages.
Sherrill’s win marked a notable achievement as it is the first time in recent history that the Democratic Party has controlled Drumthwacket for more than two consecutive terms. Previously, Republicans had been making strides in rural areas.
In 2024, Trump had won New Jersey by approximately six percentage points—a stark contrast from his 16-point margin four years earlier. Ciatarelli previously fell short by around three points to then-Governor Phil Murphy in the 2021 race.
Sherrill maintained strong polling numbers over the summer, even showing a significant 20-point lead in a Rutgers-Eagleton poll at one point. However, as Election Day neared, the landscape shifted, with polls indicating a much closer race.
Issues like rising energy costs and affordability challenges were central to the race. Sherrill, with three terms in the House, shaped her campaign around national topics and positioned it as a critique of Trump.
A memorable moment from her campaign occurred in May when she struggled to articulate her legislative priorities during an interview. After an awkward pause, she referenced a federal program outside the state’s purview, which Ciatarelli’s campaign highlighted through ads.
In response to criticism about her origins, Ciatarelli attacked Sherrill for moving from Virginia to New Jersey in 2010, framing himself as a true New Jersey candidate. He remarked, “They brought Phil Murphy here from Massachusetts… My opponent is from Virginia. She’s not from New Jersey. So why not elect a guy from Jersey?”
Controversy arose when Sherrill disclosed that she had been barred from walking with Naval Academy graduates due to a past cheating scandal; she insisted this stemmed from not condemning her friends. However, some graduates voiced concerns about the complete situation, prompting Sherrill to withhold further details.
In a debate, Sherrill confronted Ciatarelli regarding his past involvement in a medical publishing company that profited from promoting opioids, linking it to the state’s ongoing struggles with addiction. Ciatarelli was caught off guard by her remarks, leading him to consider legal action for defamation.
While Trump didn’t meet Ciatarelli in person during the campaign, he supported him through phone calls, including one just before Election Day. He also endorsed Ciatarelli in a separate gubernatorial race in Virginia, despite expressing a lack of affection for the state’s lieutenant governor.
These off-year elections often give a hint of what’s to come in upcoming midterm elections. Ciatarelli’s performance in 2021 had previously exceeded expectations, setting the stage for what would follow in Virginia and other races.
