New Jersey governor hopefuls gear up for competitive primary in June

New Jersey voters will choose their Democrat and Republican nominees for governor on June 10, closing out competitive primary contests that could have major implications for the Garden State. It’s a crowded field on both sides of the aisle as six Democrats and five Republicans are vying for the chance to replace Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy, who is term-limited this year.
Democratic candidates include Newark mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City mayor Steve Fulop, New Jersey Education Association president Sean Spiller, former New Jersey Senate president Steve Sweeney and U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherill. On the Republican side, 2021 Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli, radio personality Bill Spadea, New Jersey state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, and political outsider Justin Barbera are among the candidates.
Both Democrat and Republican candidates have invoked President Donald Trump’s name during their gubernatorial campaigns, with Democrats positioning themselves as anti-Trump and Republicans trying to align themselves with Trump. New Jersey is one of just two gubernatorial elections in 2025, along with Virginia, and both races will be closely watched to gauge how Americans are responding to Trump’s second term ahead of the midterm elections next year.
In the 2024 presidential election, Trump outperformed in New Jersey, gaining a nearly five-point improvement from his 2020 vote share while Vice President Kamala Harris’ support dropped by about five points. Trump held a large rally in Wildwood Beach during his 2024 campaign, indicating that New Jersey was in play despite being a traditionally blue state.
Republican gubernatorial candidates have been emphasizing their relationships with Trump and positioning themselves as aligned with his policies. Ciattarelli, who has received Trump’s endorsement, is leading the pack of Republican candidates according to a recent poll. On the Democratic side, the leading candidate is less clear, with candidates like Sherrill, Fulop, Spiller, Baraka, and Sweeney all garnering support.
As the New Jersey primary approaches, the state has been making headlines for various reasons, including FAA system outages at Newark Liberty International Airport, a New Jersey transit strike, and a large sinkhole that shut down Interstate 80. In-person early voting runs from June 3 to June 8, with in-person voting on election day, June 10, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The outcome of the New Jersey gubernatorial primary will have significant implications for the state’s future, with both Democrat and Republican candidates vying for the chance to lead the Garden State. Voters will have the opportunity to choose the nominees who will ultimately compete in the general election to replace Gov. Phil Murphy.