5:37New Jersey gubernatorial contenders Jack Ciatterelli and Mikie Sherrill engage in a debate, Oct. 8, 2025.ABC News
Democrat Mikie Sherrill is forecasted to secure the New Jersey gubernatorial contest against Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
As of 9:30 p.m. with 63% of the anticipated vote counted, Sherrill possesses an advantage exceeding 14 percentage points — 57.0% to 42.4%.
“New Jersey, it is the greatest honor of my life to gain your confidence to become this wonderful state’s 57th Governor,” Sherrill posted on X, celebrating her triumph. “I pledge to listen, lead boldly, and always remember who I represent.”
The former Navy aviator makes history as New Jersey’s first Democratic female governor. Former Republican Gov. Christine Todd Whitman was the state's inaugural female governor, fulfilling two terms from 1994 to 2001.
Sherrill’s win ends a significant pattern within the state, as no political party has maintained command of the NJ governor’s office for three successive terms since the 1960s. Her Democratic leadership will directly follow current Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s consecutive terms.
Sherrill represents New Jersey’s 11th congressional district, which encompasses portions of Essex and Morris County. She turned the district blue when she prevailed in 2018.
Tuesday's outcomes signify Ciattarelli’s third unsuccessful campaign for governor. The former state assemblyman pursued the governor’s role in 2017, but was unable to win the Republican primary. He proceeded to the general election in 2021, but was defeated by Gov. Phil Murphy by a slim 3 points.
Sherrill consistently topped Ciattarelli in opinion polls throughout the course of the campaign, although the difference between them diminished slightly in the days prior to the election.
Ciattarelli’s defeat comes as Republicans have narrowed their deficits in New Jersey in recent years, with Trump losing the state by only 6 percentage points in 2024, contrasted with 16 points in 2020.
New Jersey gubernatorial candidates Jack Ciatterelli and Mikie Sherrill participate in a debate, Oct. 8, 2025.ABC News
Former President Bill Clinton has already voiced his reaction to the announcement, congratulating Sherrill on her triumph.
“Today is a banner day for New Jersey as the people have elected a seasoned, effective leader who will stand up for you each day as Governor. Congratulations on your election,” he tweeted on X.
Polling places generally closed in New Jersey on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. — nevertheless, they remained available until 9 p.m. ET in selected parts of Passaic County after unsubstantiated bomb threats earlier in the day disrupted voting at several locations across the state’s northern region, a judge decreed.
The campaign is viewed as a barometer for assessing voter sentiments regarding President Donald Trump, the approaching contest for the U.S. House in the 2026 midterm elections and overall national feelings towards sitting officials.
Republicans have furthermore conjectured that they could seize the governor's mansion due to a tighter-than-expected disparity between Trump and then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.
Taxation and the economic climate are the paramount considerations for New Jersey voters, according to a preliminary exit poll study by ABC News.
Most New Jersey voters stated the economic condition in the state was performing "not so good" or "poorly," and that property levies were "a major issue" where they reside, as per the study.
Most New Jersey voters likewise indicated that electricity expenses in their areas constituted "a major problem," based on the study.
Sherrill and Ciattarelli have sparred about affordability, taxes and policy, while also emphasizing the broader national context of the second Trump administration. During one of their debates, Ciattarelli endorsed the key principles of Trump’s presidency while endeavoring to create some separation between himself and Trump's wider political movement; meanwhile, Sherrill exploited numerous chances to denounce Trump while aiming to closely associate the president and Ciattarelli.
The contest was upended in September following the National Archives’ attribution of a technician’s error to the release of Sherrill’s unredacted military records containing private information, which she asserted was deliberate. Concurrently, Ciattarelli has criticized her revelation that she did not participate in the Naval Academy graduation march because she failed to report cheating classmates.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
