As New Jersey heads toward the November 4, 2025 general election, the state’s political temperature is rising fast. With Governor Phil Murphy term-limited and stepping aside after two terms, voters are preparing to choose between two sharply contrasting visions for New Jersey’s future — Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and Republican former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli. This election isn’t just about Trenton’s leadership; it’s emerging as a national bellwether for 2026 and beyond.
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The Race for Governor: Sherrill vs. Ciattarelli
Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee and former Navy helicopter pilot turned U.S. Congresswoman, has quickly established herself as the race’s front-runner. A mid-October Fairleigh Dickinson University poll placed her at 52%, ahead of Ciattarelli’s 45%. Earlier polling in late September showed a dead heat, but the recent swing suggests Democratic enthusiasm is coalescing.
Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli, who came within striking distance of defeating Murphy in 2021, is banking on frustration over rising taxes, high energy costs, and affordability challenges to energize conservative and independent voters. Ciattarelli’s campaign leans on economic issues and promises of fiscal restraint, though his endorsement by former President Donald Trump has become both an asset and a lightning rod.
Meanwhile, Sherrill’s campaign has drawn major national attention and endorsements from leading Democrats, including former President Barack Obama and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who joined her for a recent rally in Newark’s West Ward. There, Sherrill emphasized a message of economic fairness, condemning what she called “Trump’s worldwide extortion racket” — a pointed rebuke of tariffs and trade policies that she argues burden working-class families.
Rallying Newark’s West Ward
The rally in Newark carried symbolic weight. It took place in the same ward that produced historic figures like the late Ronald L. Rice, a Vietnam veteran and Newark Police Detective, and former Essex County Sheriff John Cryan. It was a reminder that New Jersey politics, at its core, still runs on the grassroots energy of its communities.
Joined by local Democratic leaders and the influential 32BJ SEIU, Sherrill called for a statewide mobilization of voters across urban and suburban divides. “Every time I reflect on what’s required of us, the word that comes to me is love — the kind of love that demands action,” said Assembly candidate and community leader Chigozie Onyema, who hosted the rally. “It’s about how we lead, how we live, and who we fight for.”
The event drew participation from local officials, including Democratic State Party Chairman LeRoy Jones, who told the crowd, “When we elect Mikie Sherrill as New Jersey’s next governor — the first Democratic woman to hold that office — that’s history in the making.”
A Statewide Map of Contests and Change
Beyond the governor’s race, all 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly are up for grabs this November. Democrats currently hold the majority, but the outcome of the gubernatorial contest could influence legislative control. The 11th District, stretching across parts of Monmouth County, is among the most closely watched battlegrounds.
This year’s ballot will also look different. For the first time in decades, voters will cast ballots without the “county line” design, following a court-ordered change aimed at leveling the playing field for challengers. While party-backed candidates still dominated the primaries, the absence of the county line has reshaped campaign strategies across the state.
Infrastructure, Congestion Pricing, and the Gateway Tunnel Debate
The ongoing fallout from the Trump administration’s early 2025 decision to terminate New York’s congestion pricing plan continues to ripple across the region. The move — which Governor Murphy applauded — has reignited debates over transportation funding, pollution, and the long-term future of the Gateway Tunnel project. For many New Jersey commuters, the political fight over these policies hits close to home, shaping how both parties discuss regional infrastructure priorities.
Read more about state policy and government updates.
Lakewood’s Vaad and the Orthodox Vote
In Lakewood, the influential Vaad HaRabanim (Council of Rabbis) has again become a focal point of attention. Historically capable of swaying thousands of votes within New Jersey’s large Orthodox Jewish community, the Vaad’s endorsements can have major statewide implications.
This election cycle, reports suggest the Vaad may once again lean toward Ciattarelli, continuing its pattern of pragmatic, cross-party endorsements. In 2021, the group endorsed Democrat Phil Murphy, but Ciattarelli still won a majority of Lakewood’s vote, underscoring shifting political dynamics in the community. Their 2025 endorsement — and the extent of its impact — could be pivotal in a close race.
Grassroots Activism Beyond State Lines
Across the Delaware River, thousands gathered in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, for the national “No Kings” rallies, protesting what organizers described as authoritarian overreach by former President Trump and his allies. Over 2,700 coordinated events worldwide drew millions of participants, including large crowds from neighboring New Jersey counties.
Local officials, including Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie and State Senator Steve Santarsiero, joined the rally, calling for vigilance in defending democratic institutions. Their message — that “democracy isn’t about power for a few, it’s about service to the many” — resonated across state lines, symbolizing the regional pushback to divisive national politics.
Policy Trends: Housing, Books, and Budgets
New Jersey continues to move forward on several major policy fronts. A 2024 law banning book bans remains one of Governor Murphy’s most widely discussed legacy achievements, ensuring local school districts cannot remove titles based on political or social pressure. Meanwhile, a recent legal challenge to the state’s affordable housing framework was resolved in favor of maintaining current requirements, a win for advocates of equitable development.
State finances have shown positive momentum with increased tax collections this year, though economic analysts warn of uncertainty surrounding future federal fiscal policies. The next governor will inherit not only Murphy’s budget priorities but also the political task of balancing affordability, infrastructure investment, and long-term fiscal stability.
With just weeks to go before New Jerseyans head to the polls, the energy in both parties is unmistakable. From rallies in Newark’s West Ward to grassroots protests in Morrisville and shifting alliances in Lakewood, this election season is defining the next chapter of New Jersey’s political identity — and the nation is watching closely.
Stay up to date on statewide developments, candidates, and legislative races at Explore New Jersey Politics.
