New Jersey Primary Election 2025: What to know about this year’s governor’s race

A "Vote Here Today" sign at the Pershing Field community center during primary elections in Jersey City on June 4, 2024. (Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal) Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal
By Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

It’s a big and busy election year in New Jersey, as voters will elect a new governor in a race the entire nation will be watching.

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy can’t run for a third term under state law. And 11 major-party candidates — yes, 11 — are running to succeed him in one of the most hotly contested primary elections the Garden State has seen in years.

Six Democrats and five Republicans are vying for their party’s nominations in the June 10 primary. The winners face off in November’s general election to become New Jersey’s 57th governor.

The Democrats are: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney.

The Republicans are: contractor Justin Barbera, state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, and former radio host Bill Spadea.

The battle is drawing national attention because New Jersey is one of only two states this year — along with Virginia — holding gubernatorial elections in 2025. And they’re the first big races after President Donald Trump returned to office this year, making it an early barometer for what the public thinks of his controversial new administration.

All 80 seats in the state Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, are also on the ballot.

And there’s something brand new about it all. These are the first Jersey gubernatorial and legislative races without the infamous “county line” — a ballot design that for decades helped party bosses hand-pick nominees and influence primary elections. The system was tossed out in court. And that could give candidates a more even playing field, making the results all the more uncertain.

Tens of thousands of voters have already cast ballots by mail. In-person voting begins June 3. And primary Election Day is June 10.

Here’s what you need to know.

WHO CAN VOTE?

In most states, only registered Democrats and Republicans are allowed to vote in primaries. But New Jersey has open primaries, which means unaffiliated registered voters can also cast ballots.

Those who claim no party affiliation can simply walk into their polling station on Election Day and ask for a Democratic or Republican primary ballot.

The catch: That means you’re then registered under that party. You can return to unaffiliated status after the primary by re-registering as an unaffiliated voter, according to the state Division of Elections.

Before any of that, you have to be a registered voter in the first place. Click here to see if you’re registered. The deadline to register for the June 10 primary was May 20.

Also, you have to be at least 18 years old to vote. Gov. Murphy earlier last year signed a law that will allow people in New Jersey who are 17 to vote in primaries if they turn 18 by the general election, but it won’t take effect until 2026.

HOW TO VOTE

There are several ways to cast a ballot.

VOTE-BY-MAIL: Many people have already voted by mail. And you have plenty of time to still do that. Your ballot must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 10, and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before six days after Election Day.

You can also return mail-in ballots to one of several drop boxes in your county by 8 p.m. on primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 10. Find locations here.

Or you can deliver your mail-in ballot in person to your county’s Board of Elections office by 8 p.m. on primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 10. Find those offices here.

EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING: You can vote early in person from Tuesday, June 3 to Sunday, June 8. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Sunday.

If you want to vote by mail but haven’t applied or received your ballot, contact your county clerk to request one. You must do so no less than 7 days before primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 10. Contact information is here.

IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY: Traditional in-person voting happens on primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 10.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. As long as you are in line by 8 p.m., you are allowed to vote.

Your polling place is assigned based on your address. Click here and plug in your address to find where you vote.

GOVERNOR’S RACE

The 11 major-party candidates running for New Jersey governor (clockwise from top left): Jon Bramnick, Mikie Sherrill, Steven Fulop, Ras Baraka, Mario Kranjac, Josh Gottheimer, Jack Ciattarelli, Justin Barbera, Steve Sweeney, Bill Spadea, and Sean Spiller.

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is required by the state constitution to leave office in January after two terms. That means his seat is open. And there are 11 candidates — six Democrats and five Republicans — running for it.

The winner of the June 10 primaries secure the Democratic and Republican nominations to run in November’s general election for a four-year term.

History is on the GOP side. While Jersey is a blue state, with 800,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, Jerseyans usually go back and forth between parties when electing a governor. The last time one party was elected to the governor’s office in Trenton three straight terms was 1961. John F. Kennedy was in his first year as president then.

THE ISSUES

Democrats are hoping to capitalize on Donald Trump’s already polarizing second presidency. The party’s primary has been focused everyone vowing to battle Trump. They all have also promised to lower costs and property taxes in the very expensive state at a time when the national economy is uncertain under Trump. And they have sparred over whether to continue the Murphy administration’s “sanctuary” immigration policies.

Conversely, Republicans have found hope in how Trump surprisingly shaved several points of his margins here last year, painting the state a little purple. Most — but not all — of the candidates have praised or mimicked the president’s policies on tightening government and curbing immigration. They’re also promising to cut taxes and government spending and believe they could be carried by backlash against Democrats, who have occupied the governor’s desk for eight years and the Legislature for 22.

Education is also a huge deal on both sides as some districts are reeling with big cuts under the state’s school funding formula.

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MONEY AND POLLS

The race has also been expensive, with candidates spending $43 million so far.

Polls show the Democratic primary is tighter, though Mikie Sherrill has led in most. Jack Ciattarelli has had been ahead by double digits in all surveys in the Republican primary.

WHO IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY?

The field is large because it’s an open seat and more candidates felt they had a shot to win because party bosses’ power has been watered down with the death of the county line. On the Democratic side, it’s possible a candidate could win with around 20% of the vote.

The lineup is also stacked. Both sides are filled with names that may not be known to all residents but have long loomed large in state politics.

They are:

DEMOCRATS

Ras Baraka, 54, Newark mayor

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

The leader of New Jersey’s largest city is running an openly progressive campaign, vowing to make the state more equitable and tackle Trump head on. You may have heard lately that he was arrested by ICE agents outside an immigrant detention center in his city after days of trying to serve them code violations. The feds have since dropped the trespassing charges. A poet and former educator, Baraka is also seeking to become the state’s first Black governor. (It’s pronounced Raz Buh-rah-kuh.)

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH BARAKA

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Steven Fulop, 48, Jersey City mayor

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop

The leader of New Jersey’s second-largest city is also running in the progressive lane, raging against political machines and party bosses in a grassroots-styled campaign and touting a string of policies to reform state government. He’s even running his own slate of Assembly candidates. A Marine who used to work on Wall Street, Fulop is also vying to become the state’s first Jewish governor. (It’s pronounced Full-up.)

WATCH OUR OUR INTERVIEW WITH FULOP

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Josh Gottheimer, 50, member of the U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer

The congressman is a former Bill Clinton speechwriter from Bergen County who leads a bipartisan caucus in the House. He’s also a robust fundraiser who has drawn attention for a TV ad in which a shirtless, AI version of himself is shown boxing Trump. (Really.) He’s also promising repeatedly to cut your taxes. And he’d be the first Jewish governor, as well. (It’s pronounced Got-high-mur.)

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH GOTTHEIMER

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Mikie Sherrill, 53, member of the U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill

The congresswoman is a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor from Essex County — and the only female candidate on either side. She’s backed by Democratic leaders in some of the biggest parts of the state and is promising to combat Trump and bring more housing to the state. If the county line were still around, she’d easily be the favorite. She’s still leading in most polls, though others aren’t very far behind. (It’s pronounced Mike-ee Sher-uhl.)

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH SHERRILL

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Sean Spiller, 50, president of the New Jersey Education Association

New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller

He’s the former mayor of Montclair and currently the leader of the NJEA, the state’s largest teachers union and one of the state’s most politically powerful groups. He’s boosted by $35 million from the NJEA’s political action fund — flush with union dues — and could get a bump in turnout from teachers. (But he didn’t qualify for the debate stage because his campaign itself didn’t raise enough money.) Not surprisingly, he’s promising to focus on education and says he’ll give a voice to working-class families, while also fighting Trump.

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH SPILLER

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Steve Sweeney, 65, former state Senate president

Former state Senate President Steve Sweeney

He spent two decades as a lawmaker in the Legislature, and as president of the Senate was Jersey’s second-highest-ranking elected state official for 12 years. That was until he lost his seat in a shocker four years ago, falling to an unknown Republican truck driver. But Sweeney, a moderate and the only South Jersey candidate in the Democratic primary, says his experience in Trenton helps him understand how to cut costs and revamp education.

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH SWEENEY

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REPUBLICANS

Justin Barbera, 44, contractor

Contractor Justin Barbera

The long-shot candidate from South Jersey lost a bid for Congress last year but managed to file the more than 2,500 petitions needed to get on the ballot for this race. He’s a Trump supporter who promises to overhaul education. He says he purposefully isn’t raising much money and thus didn’t qualify for the debate stage. (It’s pronounced Bar-bear-uh.)

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH BARBERA

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Jon Bramnick, 72, member of the state Senate

State Sen. Jon Bramnick

The self-professed centrist has spent 22 years as a lawmaker in Trenton, including a stint as the top Republican in the Assembly. He’s the lone Republican in the race who openly criticizes Trump, saying politics need more civility. He also promises to lower taxes, shave state spending, and strengthen immigration policies. An attorney by trade, he moonlights as a standup comic. (No joke.)

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH BRAMNICK

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Jack Ciattarelli, 63, former member of the state Assembly

Former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli

This is the third straight gubernatorial campaign for the former state lawmaker — and it comes four years after he came within about three points of upsetting Murphy. He’s been the clear frontrunner in this primary for months. And he cemented that status recently when he landed Trump’s endorsement. A moderate during his time in Trenton and a former Trump critic, Ciattarelli has embraced the president more over time and promises to slash taxes, undo Democratic energy and education policies, and make the state Supreme Court more conservative. (It’s pronounced Chet-a-rell-ee.)

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH CIATTARELLI

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Mario Kranjac, 59, former mayor of Englewood Cliffs

Former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac

New Jersey’s Trumpiest mayor? That’s what he says he was during his three terms leading his Bergen County borough. The attorney says he would govern the state in Trump’s image. He has polled last so far and didn’t raise enough to qualify for the debate stage. (It’s pronounced Kran-jack.)

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH KRANJAC

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Bill Spadea, 56, former radio host

Former radio host Bill Spadea

You might have seen him on TV (as the host of the old “Chasing News” show) or heard him on the radio the last decade, as host of the morning drive show on Jersey’s largest station, 101.5 (though he recently left the job during the campaign). He’s a Marine and an unabashed conservative who has been critical of vaccines. He’s running as a pro-Trump outsider, promising to combat undocumented immigration, shrink government, and reverse LGBTQ policies in schools. And he’s so far polled a distant second and was wounded when Trump endorsed Ciattaelli instead. (It’s pronounced Spay-di-uh.)

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH SPADEA

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STATE ASSEMBLY RACES

The full 80-seat state Assembly faces election this year. More than 200 Democrats and Republicans are running in the primary.

All 80 seats are up for grabs in the Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, the governing body in Trenton that writes the state’s laws and passes its budget. Like the state Senate, it’s been controlled by Democrats for more than two decades.

There’s a staggering 209 candidates — 123 Democrats and 86 Republicans — running for their party’s nomination for those seats in the primary. That’s the highest number since 1977. And it’s thanks at least in part to the fall of the county line.

Notably, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop is running his own slate of Assembly candidates, challenging incumbents and other party-backed contenders in Democratic primaries as he runs a machine-bucking campaign for governor.

WHAT IF THERE’S A PROBLEM AT THE POLLS?

If you have concerns about voting and elections, call the state Division of Elections’ voting information and assistance line at 877-NJVOTER (877-658-6837).

Separately, the state Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability investigates public corruption and election crimes. To report a potential crime, call 844-OPIA-TIPS. The Attorney General’s Office has an anti-corruption reward program that will offer a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to a conviction for a crime involving public corruption. For more details, see http://nj.gov/oag/corruption/reward.html.

WHERE CAN I FIND RESULTS?

There will be full results and coverage of key races on NJ.com after the polls close on Election Night, Tuesday, June 10.

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @johnsb01.

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