Democrat Mikie Sherrill is expected to win the New Jersey gubernatorial election against Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
As of 9:30 p.m., with 63% of the expected votes reported, Sherrill has a lead of more than 14 points: 57.0% to 42.4%.
“New Jersey, it is the honor of my life to earn your trust to become the 57th governor of this great state,” Sherrill. wrote in Xcelebrating his victory. “I promise to listen, lead boldly, and never forget who I serve.”
The former Navy pilot makes history as the first Democratic governor of New Jersey. Former Republican Governor Christine Todd Whitman was the state’s first female governor, serving two terms from 1994 to 2001.
Sherrill’s victory breaks a notable trend in the state, as no party has controlled the New Jersey governorship for three consecutive terms since the 1960s. His Democratic governorship will immediately follow the consecutive terms of current Democratic Governor Phil Murphy.
Sherrill represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, which includes parts of Essex and Morris County. He changed districts when he won in 2018.
Tuesday’s results mark Ciattarelli’s third failed bid for governor. The former state assemblyman set his sights on the governor’s mansion in 2017, but failed to secure the Republican primary. He made it to the 2021 general election, but lost to Governor Phil Murphy by just 3 points.
Sherrill consistently led Ciattarelli in polls over the course of the campaign, although his gap narrowed slightly in the days leading up to the election.
Ciattarelli’s loss comes as Republicans have narrowed their margins in New Jersey in recent years, with Trump losing the state by just 6 points in 2024, compared to 16 points in 2020.
New Jersey gubernatorial candidates Jack Ciatterelli and Mikie Sherrill participate in a debate on October 8, 2025.
ABC News
Former President Bill Clinton already reacted to the news, congratulating Sherrill on his victory.
“Today is a great day for New Jersey as the people have elected an experienced, hard-working leader who will fight for you every day as Governor. Congratulations about his choice,” he wrote. in X.
Most polls closed in New Jersey on Tuesday at 8 pm ET. — however, they remained open until 9 p.m. ET in parts of Passaic County after unfounded bomb threats earlier in the day halted voting in places in the northern part of the state, a judge ruled.
the race has been seen as an indicator of how voters feel about President Donald Trump, the upcoming battle for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections and broader national sentiment against incumbent leaders.
Republicans have also been speculating that they may flip the governor’s mansion due to a narrower-than-expected margin between Trump and then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.
Taxes and the economy are the most important issues for New Jersey voters, according to a preliminary analysis of the exit poll by ABC News.
A majority of New Jersey voters said the state’s economy was “not so good” or “bad” and that property taxes were “a major problem” where they live, according to the analysis.
A majority of New Jersey voters also said electricity costs where they live are “a major problem,” according to the analysis.
Sherrill and Ciattarelli have faced each other for affordability, taxes and policies, while noting the national context of the second Trump administration. During one of their debates, Ciattarelli embraced the main tenets of Trump’s presidency while attempting to keep some distance between himself and Trump’s broader political movement; Meanwhile, Sherrill took several opportunities to criticize Trump as he sought to closely unite the president and Ciattarelli.
The race was shaken in September after the National Archives blamed a technician’s error for the release of Sherrill’s unredacted military records that included personal information, which she said was intentional. Meanwhile, Ciattarelli has criticized his admission that he didn’t march at the Naval Academy graduation because he didn’t tell on classmates who cheated.
