By NJ State House News Service
A day after Mikie Sherrill beat Republican Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey’s race for governor, Democrats across the state were celebrating a clear shift away from Trump-era politics — and the start of a new political chapter for the Garden State.
A Historic Win
Four years ago, Ciattarelli came within four points of unseating Governor Phil Murphy, a shock that rattled Democrats. This time, the race was called less than 90 minutes after polls closed, with Sherrill winning by an astonishing 13 points — a result no poll had predicted.
Her victory ensures Democrats will hold the governor’s office for a third consecutive term, the longest streak since 1961. In the Assembly, Democrats gained at least three seats, further cementing control of the legislature. Five counties that had backed Trump in 2024 flipped back to blue.
“In Jersey City, we’d call this an ass-kicking,” said veteran journalist David Cruz during a post-election roundtable at Rutgers’ Eagleton Institute of Politics.
Governor Murphy, who met with Sherrill in Trenton after the election, said national politics clearly influenced the outcome. “What’s going on in Washington is a factor for sure — everything from the shutdown to SNAP to Gateway to just the feel of the country right now,” he told reporters.
Across the country, Democrats scored major victories in states like Virginia, Georgia, and California, signaling widespread voter resistance to Trump-style politics and Republican overreach.
Message to Republicans
Republicans “should be thinking about who they’re appealing to and why,” said Regina Egea, president of the Garden State Initiative and former chief of staff to Governor Chris Christie. “Some of this is a big push back to the hypermasculinity we’re seeing at the national level. I think young women are pretty fed up.”
Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, said some Republicans had faulted Ciattarelli — a staunch Trump supporter — for not showing even more loyalty. “The president’s supporters are saying, ‘If you don’t get the message, you’ll get your butt handed to you again next year,’” Rasmussen said.
Still, he added, voters in New Jersey aren’t seeking rigid partisanship. “They don’t want a rubber stamp,” he said. “They want someone who can advance their interests and speak for them.”
Lessons for Democrats
Democrats hoping to expand control of Congress next year have work ahead. “If Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger fall flat in terms of running the governments they’ve been elected to run, that could have a huge impact,” said Ben Dworkin, director of the Rowan Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship. “This comes down to governing, and who does a good job or not such a good job.”
Mo Butler, a Democratic National Committee member and partner at Mercury Public Affairs, said Trump remains a potent motivator. “Trump is the gift that keeps giving,” Butler said.
What Worked for Sherrill
Throughout the campaign, Sherrill — a Navy veteran and former prosecutor — was criticized as an unexciting candidate with limited appeal beyond the suburbs. But her campaign’s slow, disciplined approach paid off.
“It took a while, but they were very methodical about bringing everybody back together,” Butler said. A key step, he added, was “getting the mayor of Newark under the tent.”
Ciattarelli, meanwhile, sought to court urban voters who had supported Trump in 2024, but that effort fell flat. “When we get too far in one direction — when a party overreaches its mandate — voters rebalance,” Rasmussen said. “They provide the opposition party with more power to serve as a better check and balance.”
The Road Ahead
Sherrill’s win gives Democrats new momentum heading into next year’s congressional midterms, but the test now shifts from campaigning to governing. Her administration’s success — or failure — will help determine whether the 2025 results mark a momentary backlash or a lasting realignment.
“If she governs effectively and connects with voters, this could mark a new model for post-Trump politics in New Jersey,” Dworkin said. “But it all depends on how she delivers.”
Editor’s note: This story was reported by State House News interns Isabella Darcy, Adam Kendall and Rebecca Wechter.
