Tuesday’s primary: First step toward November race for governor

By Madison Miller
NJ State House News Service

New Jersey voters will visit the polls on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, for a gubernatorial primary election that’s drawing the highest campaign spending in Garden State history, exceeding $122 million.

Voters will choose from a field of six Democrats and five Republicans.  Each party’s winner  will face off in the general election in November, to replace Governor Phil Murphy, who will have served the maximum two consecutive terms.

New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states electing governors this year, and each race is being watched nationally as a potential bellwether for the 2026 midterm elections, where control of Congress is at stake.

At the same time, New Jersey is showing signs of becoming a less reliably blue state.

Though Democrats have control of the governor’s office and the legislature, the GOP in recent years has gained seats in the Senate and Assembly, and in 2021, Murphy almost lost to Republican Jack Ciatterelli, who is again the frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

And registered Democrats, who for years outnumbered registered Republicans by more than 1 million, have seen that advantage drop to 827,315, according to June 1 data.

WHERE TO VOTE

The election is open to those who are registered Republican or Democrat, but unaffiliated voters may declare a party at the polls and cast ballots. Voters may check their registration status via the New Jersey Voter Information Portal.

Polls are open 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Polling places are listed in mailed sample ballots. They also can be found online via the New Jersey Voter Information Portal’s polling place search tool, or by calling 1-877-NJ-VOTER.

In-person early voting ended on June 8, and mail-in ballots must be postmarked by June 10 and received by county election boards no later than June 16.

• WHERE TO VOTE IN MORRISTOWN
• WHERE TO VOTE IN MORRIS TOWNSHIP
• WHERE TO VOTE IN MORRIS PLAINS
• BALLOT DROP BOX LOCATIONS

THE SPENDING

Spending by the candidates and independent committees exceeded $122 million as of June 6, according to the state Election Law Enforcement Commission. Spending by candidate committees totaled $38.6 million for Democrats and $16.2 million for Republicans.

Independent committees supporting Democrats have spent $64.9 million, and those for Republicans, $2.6 million, records show. In a news release, the commission called the totals “a perfect storm of historic spending” driven by the large candidates field, public matching funds and record support by independent groups that can accept unlimited contributions.

By comparison, the 2021 gubernatorial election, in today’s dollars, cost about $72 million, according to the commission’s calculations.

THE DEMOCRATS

Steven Fulop has served as Jersey City mayor for 12 years. As governor, he says, he would create more affordable housing, tighten firearms laws, offer incentives for electric car purchases, cap annual higher-education tuition increases, extend the corporate business tax to fund NJ Transit and apply congestion-pricing tolls to vehicles entering New Jersey from New York.

Ras Baraka, former principal of Newark Central High School, is in his third term as Newark mayor.  He wants Medicaid to cover housing, transportation and other expenses; cancel a $10.6 billion New Jersey Turnpike widening project; regulate corporate landlords; initiate a “mansion tax” on luxury home sales and add an income tax of 14% on those earning $10 million or more.

Mikie Sherrill is a congresswoman from the 11th District in North Jersey. Sherrill opposes Trump’s immigration, trade and other policies. She placed reproductive rights at the forefront of her campaign, with calls to ease access to contraceptives and maintain strong abortion protections.  She supports clean energy initiatives and affordable housing.

Josh Gottheimer, a congressman from the 5th District in North Jersey, says he would stand up for “Garden State values.” He wants to lower property taxes, introduce tax credits for childcare and lower utility prices. He was the lone New Jersey Democratic lawmaker to vote with Republicans to detain and deport undocumented immigrants suspected of crimes.

Steve Sweeney was New Jersey Senate president from 2012-2022. He wants to spend on infrastructure, reduce taxes and lower housing and energy costs. In the Senate, he first abstained from a vote on marriage equality, but later sponsored the bill that was signed into law. He presided over successful efforts to raise the minimum wage, institute paid family leave, cap annual property-tax increases at 2% and restore reproductive rights funding to the state budget.

Sean Spiller has served as Montclair mayor since 2020 and president of the New Jersey Education Association since 2021. He wants to revoke public-pension reforms created by former Governor Chris Christie, mandate pricing transparency by hospitals and insurance companies and create an Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency.

THE REPUBLICANS

Jack Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman, was the Republican nominee for governor in 2021. In May he was endorsed by Trump as the candidate who would “advance our America First agenda.” Ciattarelli says he would end New Jersey’s policy as a sanctuary state, quicken the process for gun permits and work to prohibit abortion after 20 weeks.

Bill Spadea, running on the theme “Reclaim Our State,”  is a former talk radio host who had sought Trump’s endorsement. He says he would ban abortion after 15 weeks; cut individual taxes; expand charter schools and establish corporate tax breaks for employers that set up in distressed municipalities and hire locally.

Mario Krankaj, an attorney, was the first Republican in 40 years to become mayor of Englewood Cliffs. He wants to cut taxes, lower spending and end high-density affordable housing mandates. He says he would cooperate with the Trump administration on issues including immigration and abortion.

Jon Bramnick is a state senator and former assemblyman. He wants to expand school choice, increase police funding, follow federal law on immigration, maintain New Jersey’s strong abortion protections and “use every tool at my disposal” to fight New York City congestion pricing.

Justin Barbera is a building contractor who calls himself a “Trump loyalist.” He would prioritize urban rehabilitation over suburban development, offer government incentives to farmers, end affordable-housing mandates and fund education via higher corporate business taxes.