Democrat Mikie Sherrill has won the race for governor in New Jersey, according to the Associated Press, maintaining Democratic control of the chief executive role one year after the state showed signs of shifting toward President Donald Trump.
Sherrill, who will be the first female Democratic governor in the state’s history, defeated Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli, a former state assemblyman and Trump ally making his third run for governor.
She is set to follow the term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy, marking the first time a party has held the governor’s office in New Jersey for more than two full consecutive terms in the last 50 years.
Sherrill’s victory likely will be viewed as a repudiation of Trump’s first year in office and demonstrates the Democratic Party’s staying power in New Jersey even as it rebuilds on the national level.
Throughout her campaign, Sherrill put opposition to Trump and his agenda at the center of her messaging, often linking Ciattarelli to the Republican president. She hewed to moderate policies and prioritized cost-of-living concerns, including rolling out plans to address skyrocketing utility costs in the state.
Her win comes a year after Trump made significant gains in the state in the 2024 election. Trump lost New Jersey by 6 points to former Vice President Kamala Harris but reduced his margin of defeat by 10 points compared with 2020.
Sherrill’s triumph sends a clear signal: even as Republicans make inroads, New Jersey voters have reaffirmed their preference for Democratic leadership at the state level, electing a candidate who combined pragmatism with pointed opposition to the president.
