New Jersey governor election results: Democrat Mikie Sherrill is projected winner

Democrat Mikie Sherrill is projected to triumph the New Jersey gubernatorial predetermination against Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

As of 9:30 p.m. with 63% of the expected ballot reporting, Sherrill holds much than a 14-point pb -- 57.0% to 42.4%. 

“New Jersey, it is the grant of my beingness to gain your spot to go this large state’s 57th Governor,” Sherrill wrote connected X, celebrating her victory. “I committedness to listen, pb with courage, and ne'er hide who I serve.” 

The erstwhile Navy aviator makes past arsenic the first Democratic female politician of New Jersey. Former Republican Gov. Christine Todd Whitman was the state's archetypal pistillate governor, serving 2 presumption from 1994 to 2001. 

Sherrill’s triumph breaks a notable inclination successful the state, arsenic nary enactment has controlled the NJ governor’s spot for 3 consecutive presumption since the 1960s. Her Democratic governorship volition instantly win existent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s back-to-back terms. 

Sherrill represents New Jersey’s 11th legislature district, which includes parts of Essex and Morris County. She flipped the territory erstwhile she won successful 2018. 

Tuesday's results people Ciattarelli’s 3rd unsuccessful bid for governor. The erstwhile authorities assemblyman acceptable his sights connected the governor’s mansion successful 2017, but failed to unafraid the Republican primary. He made it to the wide predetermination successful 2021, but mislaid to Gov. Phil Murphy by conscionable 3 points. 

Sherrill consistently led Ciattarelli successful the polls passim the people of the campaign, though their region narrowed somewhat successful the days starring up to the election. 

Ciattarelli’s nonaccomplishment comes arsenic Republicans person tightened their margins successful New Jersey successful caller years, with Trump losing the authorities by conscionable 6 points successful 2024, compared to 16 points successful 2020. 

New Jersey gubernatorial candidates Jack Ciatterelli and Mikie Sherrill enactment successful a debate, Oct. 8, 2025.

ABC News

Former President Bill Clinton has already reacted to the news, congratulating Sherrill connected her victory. 

“Today is simply a large time for New Jersey arsenic the radical person chosen an experienced, get-the-job-done benignant of person who volition combat for you each time arsenic Governor. Congratulations on your election,” helium wrote on X. 

Polls mostly closed successful New Jersey connected Tuesday astatine 8 p.m. ET. -- however, they remained unfastened until 9 p.m. ET successful parts of Passaic County aft unfounded weaponry threats earlier successful the time halted voting astatine locations crossed the bluish portion of the state, a justice ruled.

The contention has been seen arsenic a bellwether for however voters consciousness astir President Donald Trump, the upcoming conflict for the U.S. House successful the 2026 midterms and the much wide nationalist sentiment against incumbent leaders.

Republicans person besides been speculating that they tin flip the governor's mansion due to the fact that of a closer-than-expected borderline betwixt Trump and then-Vice President Kamala Harris successful 2024.

Taxes and the system are the astir important issues for New Jersey voters, according to a preliminary exit canvass investigation by ABC News.

Most New Jersey voters said the system successful the authorities was doing "not truthful good" oregon "poor," and that spot taxes were "a large problem" wherever they live, according to the analysis.

Most New Jersey voters besides said energy costs wherever they unrecorded are "a large problem," according to the analysis.

Sherrill and Ciattarelli have clashed over affordability, taxes and policy, portion besides pointing to the nationalist discourse of the 2nd Trump administration. During 1 of their debates, Ciattarelli embraced the main tenets of Trump’s presidency portion attempting to support immoderate region betwixt himself and Trump's greater governmental movement; meanwhile, Sherrill took respective opportunities to knock Trump portion looking to necktie the president and Ciattarelli tightly together.

The contention was jolted successful September aft the National Archives blamed a technician's mistake for the merchandise of Sherrill's unredacted subject records that included idiosyncratic information, which she alleged was intentional. Ciattarelli, meanwhile, has slammed her admittance that she did not locomotion astatine Naval Academy graduation due to the fact that she did not archer connected cheating classmates.