New Jersey voters will visit the polls on Tuesday, June 10, 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.
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.
To research all of the candidates, visit MercerMe’s 2025 Primary Voters Guide , and read previous installments on property taxes , climate and energy , transportation, immigration, and reproductive rights.
