Democrat Mikie Sherrill is now poised to be New Jersey’s second woman and first Democratic woman in the governor’s office.
Sherill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the governor’s race, according to a projection by Decision Desk HQ.
Per CBS, Sherrill won by a 1% lead coming in at 49.3% and Republican Jack Ciattarelli at 47.9%.
Sherrill’s win arrives after the Democratic National Committee injected $500,000 into a combination of elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and Pennsylvania on top of its prior $3 million commitment to the Garden State earlier this year.
Accompanied by her husband and children, Sherrill appeared at a Montclair, NJ voting center on Election Day morning to cast her ballot and address the press.
Sherrill’s campaign was centered on affordability and “driving down costs” for New Jerseyans, from housing to health care. She closed out her campaign at a rally in Montclair, urging voters to protect their families and their future.
“As we see an attack on all the things we love, we know that here in New jersey we are drawing a line…” Sherrill said. “We’re fighting for our families, we’re fighting for our kids, we’re fighting for opportunity.”
She said she would consolidate smaller school districts to lower property tax rates and opposed private prisons in New Jersey.
Sherrill, a four-term U.S. representative and former Navy helicopter pilot, succeeds Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who served two terms from 2018 to 2025.
As of Nov. 1, there were about 6.6 million registered voters in New Jersey — about 38% were Democrats, roughly 25% Republicans and about 36% not affiliated with any party.