Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) and former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-Somerville) entered Tuesday’s gubernatorial primaries as frontrunners—and left with commanding victories. Now, they face off in a high-stakes, high-profile general election this November that’s expected to draw national attention.
Sherrill Rises Above Crowded Democratic Field
Sherrill, a graduate of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, attorney, former Naval officer, federal prosecutor and sitting congresswoman, led every public poll and had broad institutional support. She won 34% of the vote in a crowded Democratic primary, besting Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (20%), Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop (16%), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (12%), NJEA President Sean Spiller (11%), and former Senate President Steve Sweeney (7%). Her victory was powered by a broad coalition across 15 of the state’s 21 counties—even in areas where local party organizations backed other candidates.
Sherrill’s appeal was rooted in her biography and broad electability, focusing on affordability and steering clear of divisive ideological battles. Her main rival, Baraka, ran a progressive, urban-focused campaign that fell short in suburban regions. Fulop’s reform-minded slate failed to gain traction outside his base, while Gottheimer and Sweeney performed well only in their respective home regions.
Trump Endorsement Helps Seal GOP Nod for Ciattarelli
The Republican race was largely settled when Donald Trump endorsed Ciattarelli, effectively shutting down the competition. Ciattarelli secured 68% of the vote, trouncing his rivals: former radio host Bill Spadea (22%), State Sen. Jon Bramnick (6%), and former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac (3%).
Even before Trump’s endorsement, Ciattarelli already had a dominant lead in polls and fundraising. It may have been that Ciattarelli’s goodwill from his prior runs – he famously came three points away from unseating Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021 – and his savvy primary campaign this year were simply too much for challengers to overcome.
Ciattarelli, a former State Assemblyman and successful businessman from Somerset County, moved decisively throughout the campaign to align with Trump and the GOP base. Spadea tried to run further right, but couldn’t overcome Ciattarelli’s name recognition and Trump-aligned messaging. Bramnick’s anti-Trump pitch gained little traction, underscoring the dominance of MAGA politics in the state’s Republican electorate.
RCSG's Tim White, who attended Ciattarelli's Primary Election Night event, noted that he "seemed to embrace and leverage his frontrunner status throughout the Primary campaign -- building off the relationships and support he's been cultivating since his first Primary run in 2017. The fact that he is not running against an incumbent governor, and after eight years of Democratic control in New Jersey, puts Jack in a much more advantageous position this year as compared to four years ago."
Legislative Races Yield Few Surprises
In Legislative District 4 (Camden, Atlantic, and Gloucester Counties), incumbent Democratic Assemblymen Cody Miller and Dan Hutchinson comfortably fended off two well-funded challengers to secure their party’s nomination.
In Bergen County’s District 37, incumbent Democratic Assemblywoman Ellen Park and Assemblywoman Sharma Haider held back three well-funded challengers to secure their party’s nomination for November’s General Election.
In the 28th district, Assemblywoman Garnet Hall lost re-election after failing to secure party support. Hall instead ran on Steve Fulop’s ticket against the winning party ticket of Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker and attorney Chigozie Onyema.
In District 31 (Bayonne, Jersey City and Kearny), Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker, the top vote-getter in yesterday's Primary Election, will replace Assemblyman William Sampson IV as the district's Democratic assembly nominee in November and will run alongside incumbent Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato.
In Jersey City’s 32nd District, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and first-time assembly candidate Katie Brennan defeated four candidates, including incumbent Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez, to win the Democratic nomination.
In Hudson County's District 33, Senator Brian Stack’s running mates, Assemblyman Gabe Rodriguez (D-West New York) and frequent North Bergen mayoral candidate Larry Wainstein, easily defeated a slate of candidate's back by North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco including former North Bergen school board member Tony Hector and former Union City Republican chairman Frank Alonso.
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