The 2025 New Jersey Primary Election saw strong voter turnout and marked the most expensive gubernatorial primary in the state’s history. This is the first year both major parties used a new statewide ballot design. The traditional county line is gone, replaced by an office-block layout where candidates are grouped by office rather than party.
Key issues driving the election included affordability, housing, and democracy. Both party nominations for governor were called within an hour of the polls closing. Former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli won the Republican nomination and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill won the Democratic nomination.
Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates
- Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5th)
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th)
- Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark
- Sean Spiller, president of the New Jersey Education Association
- Steve Fulop, mayor of Jersey City
- Steve Sweeney, union leader and former Senate president
Republican Gubernatorial Candidates
- Bill Spadea, former talk radio host
- Jack Ciattarelli, former assembly member
- Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-LD21)
- Justin Barbera, construction company owner
- Mario Kranjac, former mayor of Englewood Cliffs
New Jersey Governor’s Race
Democrat Mikie Sherrill won her party’s nomination. A US Navy veteran, Sherrill led in pre-primary polls and gained significant endorsements ahead of Election Day. She has emphasized affordability, specifically linking rising healthcare costs to property tax increases. Sherrill proposes auditing the State Health Benefits Program to recover overpayments and control costs. She also plans to expand the state Child Tax Credit (up to $1,000 per child) and the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Republican Jack Ciattarelli secured the GOP nomination. Ciattarelli, who was endorsed by President Trump, previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly and has run twice before for governor. His platform focuses on tax relief, including tax reductions, consolidating tax brackets, ending the taxation of retirement income, and making student loan interest tax-deductible. He also supports a more equitable distribution of school funding to lower property taxes.
Contested New Jersey Assembly Races
Democrats had contested races in 23 legislative districts, and Republicans had six. Many final results are still pending. Notable races include:
- District 20’s winner is Annette Quijano; the race for the second nomination remains too close to call between Ed Rodriguez and Sergio Granados.
- District 28 incumbent Cleopatra Tucker won; Chigozie Onyema defeated incumbent Garnet Hall for the second seat.
- District 31 has been called, as incumbent William Sampson and Jerry Walker won the Democratic seats in a narrow race.
- District 32 incumbent Jessica Ramirez trails Katie Brennan and Ravi Bhalla for the Democratic nomination.
- District 33 incumbent Gabriel Rodriguez and Larry Wainstein secured the Democratic seats.
- District 35 Kenyatta Stewart secured a seat in the Assembly, with incumbent Al Abdelaziz trailing closely for the second nomination.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 General Election will occur on Tuesday, November 4, and determine the next New Jersey governor and the full General Assembly. The McCarter Government Affairs team will continue to monitor key developments.