New Jersey has made history once again. On November 5, 2025, Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill was projected as the state’s next governor, defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a race that drew national attention and underscored shifting political winds across the country. According to Decision Desk HQ and NBC News, Sherrill’s victory marks her as the second woman and the first Democratic woman to hold the governor’s office in New Jersey, a state long considered a Democratic stronghold but one that saw a dramatic rightward shift in the 2024 presidential election.
Sherrill’s journey to the governorship is anything but conventional. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994, she was among the first class of women military pilots permitted to fly in all combat roles. After nine years of service as a Navy helicopter pilot, she earned her law degree from Georgetown University, worked in private practice, and then served as a federal prosecutor in Newark. Her political career began in earnest in 2018, when she flipped a Republican-held North New Jersey congressional district in a wave of Democrats elected during President Donald Trump’s first term.
In her victory speech on election night, Sherrill invoked the state motto of “liberty and prosperity.” She told supporters, “We see how clearly important liberty is. We know that no one in our great state is safe when our neighbors are targeted, ignoring the law and the Constitution, but prosperity is equally essential. Liberty alone is not enough if the government makes it impossible for you to feed your family, to get a good education or to get a good job. In this country, that shouldn’t be too much to ask, but right now, all of it seems at risk. Governors have never mattered more, and in this state, I am determined to build prosperity for all of our citizens.”
The contest between Sherrill and Ciattarelli was closely watched, not just in New Jersey but across the nation. As reported by the BBC and ABC News, the race was seen as a barometer of the national mood during Trump’s second term. Polls leading up to the election showed a tight contest, with Sherrill holding only a single-digit lead in the final stretch. The issues at play? Costs, affordability, and—unsurprisingly—Donald Trump himself. Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker and three-time Republican gubernatorial candidate, aligned himself closely with Trump, hoping to capitalize on the former president’s gains among working-class and non-White voters in the state.
But Sherrill’s campaign struck a different chord. She proposed tax incentives for new housing developments and a freeze on utility rate hikes, aiming to address the cost-of-living crisis that has plagued many New Jersey residents. Meanwhile, Ciattarelli pitched lower personal and corporate tax rates and a new school funding formula designed to reduce taxes across the board. The campaign’s focus on affordability resonated with voters, but ultimately, Sherrill’s message of inclusive prosperity appeared to carry the day.
With almost all votes counted, NBC News reported that Sherrill secured 56.2% of the vote to Ciattarelli’s 43.2%, while Independent Vic Kaplan received just 0.4%. In total, 3,204,774 votes were cast. County-level results showed Sherrill winning between 51.1% and 67.5% of votes in various regions, reflecting broad support across the state’s diverse communities.
The campaign was not without drama. On Election Day, some polling locations received bomb threats that caused temporary closures and a police response, according to CBS and the BBC. Sherrill condemned the threats as “a clear attempt to undermine our democratic system and intimidate New Jerseyans from going to the polls to exercise their right to vote.” Ciattarelli agreed, telling CBS, “There’s no place in politics for nonsense like this.” Despite the disruptions, voter turnout remained robust, and the election proceeded without further incident.
At her victory rally, Sherrill struck a tone of unity and resolve. “I know these are tough times. I know not everyone voted for me—but I’m working for everyone,” she said. She went on to emphasize her commitment to the country’s founding principles and delivered a pointed message to President Trump: “We’re going to follow Lady Liberty’s beacon. We’re not going to give in to our darker impulses. Here in New Jersey, we know that this nation has not ever been, nor will it ever be ruled by kings. We take oaths to a Constitution, not a king.”
Sherrill’s win is part of a broader trend of centrist Democrats with military and national security backgrounds rising to higher office. Elissa Slotkin, another member of this group, recently won a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, while former Representative Abigail Spanberger claimed victory in Virginia’s gubernatorial race the same night. Their collective success signals a shift in the Democratic Party’s approach—one that values pragmatic leadership and national service credentials.
New Jersey’s political landscape has been evolving rapidly. The state last had a Republican governor in 2018, and outgoing Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, was term-limited after two terms. The first woman to serve as New Jersey’s governor was Republican Christine Todd Whitman, who held office from 1994 to 2001. Sherrill’s ascent not only breaks new ground for women in the state’s political history but also underscores the growing influence of women with military and legal backgrounds in American governance.
The significance of the governor’s office in New Jersey cannot be overstated. As the BBC explains, state governors wield enormous power over issues ranging from education to abortion rights and play a critical role in shaping policy at the state level. In New Jersey, governors are limited to two consecutive terms but can serve non-consecutive terms, making the position both influential and highly coveted.
For many observers, the 2025 New Jersey governor’s race offered a snapshot of the nation’s political climate. Trump’s endorsement of Ciattarelli and the close nature of the race reflected ongoing divisions, while Sherrill’s victory suggested a desire among voters for stability, experience, and a focus on bread-and-butter issues. As one ABC News analysis put it, the election was “notable as a barometer of national political sentiment during Donald Trump’s second term.”
With her victory, Sherrill now faces the challenge of delivering on her promises to make New Jersey more affordable and prosperous for all. Her background as a Navy pilot, prosecutor, and centrist Democrat may prove assets as she navigates the complexities of state governance in a polarized era. As she takes the helm, all eyes will be on how she steers the Garden State through the next chapter of its storied history.
The 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election will be remembered for its close margins, high stakes, and historic outcome. With Mikie Sherrill’s win, the state embarks on a new era—one defined by both the weight of tradition and the promise of change.
