Copyright New York Daily News
Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill rode a wave of anger over President Trump’s controversial second term to win a solid victory over Republican Jack Ciattarelli to become New Jersey’s next governor. Bucking predictions of a nail-biter, the one-time Navy fighter pilot cruised to a comfortable win that Democrats hope will prove Trump is still kryptonite to voters in suburban swing states going into the crucial 2026 congressional midterm elections. “This campaign has been a love letter to you, New Jersey,” Sherrill tweeted after polls closed. “Thank you for sharing your dreams and fears, and thank you especially to everyone who chipped in, volunteered, and trusted me with their vote.” With turnout outpacing expectations, Sherrill ran up the score in well-educated affluent suburbs and deep-blue urban strongholds like Newark, Jersey City and Camden. Ciattarelli was unable to turn out the big numbers of infrequent voters that powered Trump’s over-performance in the state, especially among Latino voters. Sherrill, 53, a moderate four-term suburban congresswoman, was set to keep the governor’s mansion in Democratic hands for an unprecedented third time. Ciattarelli, 63, a former state lawmaker who ran a strong race against incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021, had been looking to flip the state back to GOP control and restore some of its status as a swing state. The Garden State race had shaped up to be closer than might have been expected as Republicans continue to make inroads in the traditionally blue state in the age of President Trump. The Republican president lost the state by just 6% to Kamala Harris in 2024 in part by making big inroads among Latino voters in working class north Jersey cities and towns while running up the score in GOP strongholds along the Jersey Shore. Those trends were evident again Tuesday in the race between Sherrill and Ciattarelli, with the Republican aiming to running close to his own performance from the 2021 race when he narrowly lost by 3% to Murphy, when unpopular former President Joe Biden was in the White House. Although New Jersey voters always have their own set of concerns including taxes, crime and immigration, Trump’s right-wing second term agenda loomed large over the race. Trump strongly endorsed Ciattarelli and the GOP candidate gave the man in the White House an “A” grade. But the candidate avoided appearing in person with Trump, whose approval ratings are deep underwater nationwide, and sought to strike a more moderate tone on immigration in hopes of winning a healthy share of the Latino vote. Ciattarelli has cast the contest as a chance for voters to turn away from Democrats who have controlled both the governor’s office and the state legislature for nearly eight years. He’s touted his background as a business owner with deep roots in the state. Sherrill doubled down on a message of resistance to Trump, whom she calls an aspiring authoritarian. She recently seized on Trump’s push to punish Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) by freezing funding for the multibillion-dollar plan to replace the aging rail tunnels connecting New Jersey to New York City. Sherrill also highlighted her life story, which includes serving as a U.S. Navy officer and helicopter pilot, although Ciattarelli tried to tie her to a military cheating scandal. Both candidates focused on the rising cost of living, with Sherrill blaming Trump’s economic plans and tariffs on foreign goods while Ciattarelli pointed the finger at failed state Democratic policies. The start of voting Tuesday was disrupted in seven countries after officials received emailed bomb threats that were later determined by law enforcement to be unfounded.
