New Jersey voters will select their Democrats and Republican candidates for the governor on June 10th, closing down a highly competitive primary contest that could have a major impact on Garden State.
It’s a busy area on both sides of the aisle as six Democrats and five Republicans are fighting for an opportunity to replace Phil Murphy, a Democrat government that is being term-limited this year.
Democratic candidates include Newark Mayor Las Baraka, Jersey Mayor Steve Flop, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, former New Jersey Senator Steve Sweeney, Josh Gottimer and Miki Sheryl.
In 2021, Republican gubernatorial candidates Jack Theatarelli, Radio Personality Bill Spadare, New Jersey Sen. John Blumnick, former Mayor Englewood Cliff Mario Clanjack and Justin Barbera are among the Republican candidates.
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Democrat Mikier Cheryl and Republican Jack Ciatalelli are among the leading governor candidates ahead of the New Jersey primary. (Getty Images)
Democrats and Republican candidates have evoked President Donald Trump’s name during the governor’s campaign. Because Democrats are the most anti-Trump, and Republicans are trying to become the most parental Trump.
Rep. Mikie Cheryl proposes Trump’s third round each while he campaigns to become the next governor of New Jersey
New Jersey, along with Virginia, is one of just two gubernatorial elections in 2025. Both races will be used by politicians and critics to assess how Americans are responding to Trump’s second term ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
According to a voter analysis from Fox News, Trump outperformed in Garden State in 2024.
Vice President Kamala Harris won New Jersey as expected in 2024, but Trump scored almost five points improvements from his 2020 vote share, with Harris’ support dropping by about five points. He was acquired in New Jersey and had the biggest shaking at the northeast corner of the state. Hudson and Passey counties lead the pack.
Trump will arrive for a campaign rally in Wildwood, New Jersey on May 11, 2024. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Trump held a big “Make America Great” rally on the Jersey Shore during the 2024 presidential election as he told the crowd that New Jersey was playing despite his reputation as a trustworthy blue nation.
Republican governor candidates want to develop a relationship with Trump and throw the campaigns that are most alongside Trump. However, the president supported Ciattarelli earlier this month on true social. This hit Ciatarelli’s closest competitor, Spadea.
According to the Rutgers-eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel Poll, Ciattarelli leads a Republican candidate with 42% of New Jersey’s registered Republicans and independent voters who are leaning towards Republicans. Four percent of Republicans preferred Bramnick, 3% chose Barbera, and none chose Kranjac. 4% say they don’t like candidates.
Ciattarelli landed Trump support earlier this month. (Getty Images)
This is the Republican Party’s three major governor bid in a row. Ciattarelli was defeated by Murphy in 2021 by hair and framed his candidacy as a referendum on Democratic policy that has been pushing New Jersey for the past eight years.
Meanwhile, the Democratic candidate has walked the tiny line between building a Murphy legacy and committing to changing the status quo in Trenton. Like Murphy, the Democratic candidate refused to make Trump’s executive order, crack down on illegal immigration, and cut the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The same poll found Democrats were more divided on the main candidates. 17% of registered Democrats and Democrats said they prefer Cheryl, while 12% said they support Flop. Spiller landed 10%, Baraka landed 9% and Sweeney landed 7% of the vote. Four percent did not like candidates.
Baraka speaks after leaving court in Newark, New Jersey on May 15, 2025. (Getty)
The Democratic candidate threw support behind Baraka this month when he was arrested for trespassing at a Newark ice facility. The Department of Homeland Security called it “beyond the strange political stunts,” but Baraka claims he has done nothing wrong.
Garden State dominates national headlines this year as New Jersey primary comes to mind next month. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) has experienced multiple outages of its FAA system, igniting concerns among flyers and air traffic controllers.
And when the railroads closed last week, New Jersey’s transit strikes created more travel mayhem. Needless to say, the big sinkhole shutting down Interstate 80 redirects even more New Jersey travelers and commuters.
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Early in person voting from Tuesday, June 3rd to Sunday, June 8th. Voting per vote must be collected by Election Day and received by the County Election Commission six or six days before the end of the poll. In-person voting for Election Day on Tuesday, June 10th is from 6am to 8pm
Remy Numa from Fox News contributed to this report.
Deirdre Heavey is a political writer for Fox News Digital.
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