Ciattarelli Surging Ahead of GOP Primary
Jack Ciattarelli is cementing his front-runner status in New Jersey’s GOP gubernatorial primary, commanding 50% support in a new National Research Inc. poll. Bill Spadea follows with 22%, Jon Bramnick holds 9%, Mario Kranjac has 3%, and 14% remain undecided.
The results show a strong gain for Ciattarelli since February, when he led Spadea 41%-22%. His campaign continues to benefit from high name recognition, solid funding, and goodwill from his 2021 run. He now holds a 67%-16% favorable rating, far ahead of Spadea’s 37%-28%.
Significantly, GOP voters now view Ciattarelli as more aligned with Donald Trump than Spadea (46%-25%)—a blow to Spadea, whose campaign emphasizes Trump loyalty. Though Trump hasn’t endorsed in the race, ally Kellyanne Conway, now backing a pro-Ciattarelli super PAC, expects his support to follow.
Sherrill Maintains Strong Lead in Crowded Democratic Field
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) remains the Democratic frontrunner with 25% support in a new Global Strategy Group poll. She leads Rep. Josh Gottheimer (15%), mayors Steve Fulop and Ras Baraka (13% each), NJEA President Sean Spiller (12%), and former Senate President Steve Sweeney (6%).
Sherrill also leads in favorability at 42%-9%, outperforming the rest of the field. Despite heavy ad spending by opponents—Spiller ($16M), Gottheimer ($14.2M), and Fulop ($10.7M)—Sherrill’s campaign and allies have spent just $120,000 on media, yet she retains her lead.
Gottheimer Rolls Out Anti-Trump Platform
Gottheimer has launched a 19-page “Stop Trump and Protect Our Jersey Values” platform, framing himself as the most experienced Trump opponent in the race. The plan includes protections against tariffs, legal action against Trump policies, and expanded voter access and immigration protections.
He also pledges to tackle hate crimes, enhance security for houses of worship, and fight extremism, calling out Elon Musk for enabling online hate. With others in the race also running anti-Trump campaigns, Gottheimer’s platform escalates the primary’s central theme: opposition to Trump.
Sweeney Highlights Working-Class Roots in New Ad
Steve Sweeney is leaning into his background as an ironworker in a new TV ad titled “Hands,” promoting himself as a blue-collar candidate who’s not part of the political elite. The ad contrasts him with lawyer-heavy rivals and underscores his legislative work raising wages and cutting seniors’ taxes.
Backed by a seven-figure ad buy, the message aims to resonate with working-class voters and position Sweeney as a hands-on leader.
Sherrill Launches TV Blitz, Targets Trump and Musk
Sherrill has released two new ads, “Fire” and “Fighter,” backed by a multi-million dollar TV and digital buy.
In “Fire,” she speaks directly to voters, vowing to cut housing and healthcare costs and protect Social Security. “Fighter” features a chorus of voices touting her leadership and targeting Trump and Musk for economic damage and threats to core freedoms.
The ads reinforce Sherrill’s image as a tough, experienced leader ready to take on national power players and deliver for New Jersey families.
Fulop Unveils Bold Affordability Plan, Pushes Municipal Consolidation
New Jersey has 564 municipalities and even more school districts—a long-standing driver of high property taxes. While talk of consolidating towns resurfaces during most gubernatorial races, little action follows. Steve Fulop hopes to change that.
Unveiling his affordability agenda Monday alongside his running mate, S. Orange Mayor Sheena Collum, Fulop proposed using the state’s Local Finance Board to restrict municipal bonding. The goal: push towns toward regional solutions by making it harder to borrow independently.
“The reality is we have to force these people to have a conversation on consolidation,” Fulop said, taking aim at the state's entrenched "home rule" culture. He also suggested requiring public approval for large municipal bond projects, as school districts already do.
Collum underscored the practicality of regional planning, sharing an example from her tenure: merging fire departments with Maplewood saved over $1 million. “The water doesn’t give a crap if there’s a municipal border,” she said of local flooding challenges.
While political resistance to consolidation remains strong, Fulop and Collum say real savings start with real reform: “A fire truck here, a fire truck there, and pretty soon it’s real money.”
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