Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli to Vie for New Jersey Governor

Both parties saw heavily contested primaries for the state's top executive office.

U.S. Representative Mikie Sherill defeated five other Democrats to win the party’s nomination in the open Governor’s race.

The Democratic and Republican primaries occurred today in New Jersey to select candidates for Governor. Six Democrats and five Republicans qualified for the primary ballot. A candidate only needs a plurality of the vote to receive their party’s nomination today.

Incumbent Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, is term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third consecutive term in office. As such, his tenure holding the state’s top executive office occurred from January 2018 to January 2026.

Mikie Sherrill won the Democratic primary with 33.9% (276,669) against Ras Baraka with 20.6% (167,549), Steven Fulop with 16.0% (130,418), Josh Gottheimer with 11.7% (95,083), Sean Spiller with 10.7% (86,992), and Stephen Sweeney with 7.2% (58,385). 815,096 votes have been counted.

Sherrill served in the U.S. Navy as a combat pilot from 1994 to 2003 - retiring with the rank of Lieutenant. Since January 2019, she has held New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, Jack Ciattarelli won the Republican primary with 67.8% (311,823) against Bill Spadea with 21.8% (100,247), Jon Bramnick with 6.2% (28,562), Mario Kranjac with 2.7% (12,536), and Justin Barbera with 1.4% (6,568). 459,736 votes have been counted.

Ciattarelli was a member of the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders from January 2007 to November 2011 and represented District 16 in the New Jersey General Assembly from December 2011 to January 2018. In 2021, he was the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey - holding incumbent Phil Murphy to a surprisingly close 51.2-48.0 re-election.

The general election for Governor of New Jersey between Ciattarelli and Sherrill will occur on November 4, 2026. Both candidates will be tasked with selecting running mates to appear on the ticket with them and who will serve as Lieutenant Governor if they are elected. Governor is the only statewide executive office elected by voters in New Jersey. Meanwhile, all 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly as well as several local and county positions will also be elected this November.