Associated Press has projected that the American representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) will win the primary Democratic governor of New Jersey, and that former state assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli will win the primary of the Republican governor of New Jersey, establishing a competitive career in November where the voters of the garden states with the vote of the garden could be tested.
Republicans hope to turn the Government from blue to red, and point out last year’s presidential results as a sign that the State has become more favorable for Republicans.
“This year’s election for the governor is essential for the future of New Jersey. He will decide if New Jersey is a high tax, high crime and sanctuary,” Trump said during a demonstration for Cattarelli, whom he supported, held by phone in early June. “New Jersey is ready to get out of that blue horror show.”
The vice president of the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, won New Jersey in about 6 percentage points in 2024, but the then vice president of the vice president, Joe Biden, won the State in approximately 16 percentage points in 2020. That means that representative Mikie Sherrill will have to campaign in a state that may be redder than it used to be.
“We build a nation, and people say that the scars we have are ugly … The president comes here without stopping his golf course and calls our state a horror show, but in November, we are sending an opportunity for the arch,” Sherrill told the followers on Tuesday night.
New Jersey representative, Mikie Sherrill, speaks during the primary debate of New Jersey Democratic governor in NJ PBS Studios, May 12, 2025, in Newark, NJ, NJ
Steve Hockstein/NJ Advance Media through AP
The general choice could also be a proof of the force of a Trump backrest without Trump at the top of the ballot. Jack Ciattarelli probably benefited from Trump’s backing on the primary, but without Trump in the ticket in November, he will have to convince Trump base in New Jersey to still result.
“We won because our campaign is about people, not politics … we won because we talk about the problems that matter, the critical problems that our state and my plan for a safer, more prosperous and affordable new sweater face,” Ctarelli told the followers at an event of the night of the Elections on Tuesday.
Former assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli speaks after the first Republican debate, on February 4, 2025, at the Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ
Mike Catalini/AP
The other Democratic candidates who faced Sherrill were the representative Josh Gottheimer, who represents the fifth district of the State; The mayor of Newark Ras Baraka; The mayor of Jersey City Steve Fulop; The president of the New Jersey Education Association, Sean Spiller; and the former president of the state Senate Steve Sweeney.
Ciattarelli faced the personality of conservative radio Bill Spadea, state senator Jon Bramanck, former Englewood Mayor Cliffs Mario Kranjac and Contractor Justin Barbera.
The contest was on its way to becoming the most expensive election in the history of New Jersey, with more than $ 85 million spent on advertising from last Wednesday, According to a report of the Adimpact Media Monitoring Agency.
Among the Democrats, Gottheimer has the highest advertising expense that supports it ($ 22.8 million), followed by Fulop ($ 17.8 million).
Ciattarelli led among Republicans with $ 5.9 million in advertising expenses or reservations that support it, eclipssing the $ 2.2 million of Spadea and the $ 1.2 million of Braminick.
About 70% of transmission admission have mentioned Trump, according to Adimpact.
-ABC News’ Emily Chang, Halle Troadec, Averi Harper and Rachael Dziaba contributed to this report.
