Breaking News: Mikie Sherrill elected governor of New Jersey

Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the competitive race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, NBC News projects.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill Official Portrait, Public Domain

Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill has officially won the New Jersey governor’s race, defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a heated contest to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, according to NBC News projections.

The race — one of the most closely watched in the country — became a referendum on former President Donald Trump, whose influence loomed large over the campaign. Sherrill consistently framed her opponent as a loyal follower of Trump, warning voters that Ciattarelli would prioritize the former president’s agenda over the needs of New Jersey residents.

“He’ll do whatever Trump tells him to do, and I’ll fight anyone to work for you,” Sherrill declared during their first debate in October.

Although Trump made significant electoral gains across the nation in 2024, New Jersey proved to be a complex battleground. The former president’s performance improved in the state — he lost by only 6 percentage points, a 10-point improvement from his 2020 margin — yet Sherrill’s victory sends a clear signal that Trump’s resurgence does not guarantee continued Republican success in states like New Jersey. Instead, the GOP faces a tougher environment as voters express dissatisfaction with the president’s economic policies and other issues.

The high-stakes contest drew more than $95 million in advertising from both parties, according to data from AdImpact. It was an early test ahead of next year’s midterm elections, offering clues about how each party could appeal to swing voters, particularly Latino communities, and address rising living costs, especially energy prices. Democrats also sought to mobilize their core base — particularly Black voters — while Republicans grappled with the enduring challenge of motivating Trump-aligned voters when he isn’t on the ballot.

On the campaign trail, Sherrill repeatedly attacked Trump’s record, arguing that his administration’s economic decisions were “raising prices on everything from a cup of coffee to your groceries.” She vowed that her first act as governor would be to join a lawsuit challenging Trump’s tariff policies.

Ciattarelli, endorsed by Trump during the GOP primary, largely defended the former president’s record. He contended, however, that Trump could not be blamed for New Jersey’s high taxes and steep cost of living, issues he said were rooted in years of Democratic governance.

The Republican sought to shift the election’s focus onto Gov. Phil Murphy and Democratic control of the statehouse, echoing the themes of his 2021 campaign — when he came within 3 points of unseating Murphy.

“New Jersey, we need change,” Ciattarelli said at their first debate, identifying what he described as four crises plaguing the state: affordability, education, public safety, and overdevelopment.

But this time, those arguments fell short. Historically, the party in power at the White House has struggled in New Jersey’s gubernatorial races — losing eight of the past ten. Yet Sherrill overcame that trend, marking a rare milestone: Democrats have now captured three straight gubernatorial victories in New Jersey for the first time since 1961.

Sherrill’s rise to the governorship — during Trump’s second term — adds another chapter to her rapid political ascent. First elected to Congress in the 2018 blue wave that followed Trump’s initial victory, she flipped a longtime Republican district by emphasizing her experience as a Navy helicopter pilot, former federal prosecutor, and mother of four. Those same credentials became central to her gubernatorial campaign.

After winning a hard-fought Democratic primary earlier this year, Sherrill drew strong support from voters who saw her as the candidate best positioned both to defeat Republicans and stand up to Trump.

Her campaign’s central theme was tackling New Jersey’s high cost of living. Sherrill promised to declare an emergency on utility costs immediately upon taking office, freeze electricity rates, and work to drive prices down.

She also vowed to confront the Trump administration over its decision to cut federal funding for the Gateway Tunnel Project — a crucial infrastructure initiative adding rail tunnels between New Jersey and New York. Trump recently announced he had canceled the project’s funding amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Sherrill benefited from substantial Democratic backing, as outside groups poured more than $40 million into advertising that tied Ciattarelli to Trump and scrutinized his legislative record. Prominent Democratic figures — including former President Barack Obama and several rumored 2028 presidential hopefuls — hit the campaign trail to boost her momentum in the race’s final stretch.

In the end, Sherrill’s disciplined message and focus on economic relief carried her across the finish line, delivering Democrats a historic third consecutive win and signaling that New Jersey voters were not ready to return to Trump-aligned leadership.