New Jersey’s political landscape has always been a stage for dramatic contests, but the gubernatorial election held on November 4, 2025, will be remembered as a true watershed moment. In a race marked by historic voter turnout, shifting political winds, and the looming influence of national figures, Mikie Sherrill emerged as the state’s next governor, shattering records and upending expectations across the board.
For decades, New Jersey’s gubernatorial races have been the domain of established political heavyweights. Since 1981, each contest has featured well-known candidates, with outcomes that, while sometimes close, rarely broke the mold in terms of voter enthusiasm or turnout. But this year’s election was different. Sherrill, a sitting United States Congresswoman, not only clinched the governorship but did so with a vote total that left even seasoned political observers stunned. According to Townsquare Media, “Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill has earned the distinction of receiving the most votes ever for a candidate for Governor of New Jersey.”
When the dust settled, Sherrill had secured 1,839,912 votes, representing 56.54 percent of the electorate. Her Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, also made history, collecting 1,394,639 votes—or 42.86 percent—earning the second-highest vote total ever for a New Jersey gubernatorial candidate. What makes these numbers even more impressive is that they are likely to climb further, as provisional, drop box, and cured ballots continue to be tallied. The scale of Sherrill’s victory is “almost beyond comprehension,” as Townsquare Media put it, with her margin surpassing previous records by more than half a million votes.
To appreciate the magnitude of this result, it helps to look back at the state’s electoral history. In 1981, Tom Kean (R) edged out Jim Florio (D) by a razor-thin margin of just 1,797 votes—1,145,999 to 1,144,202. That contest remains the closest in New Jersey’s history. Four years later, Kean would achieve the largest margin ever, trouncing Peter Shapiro (D) with 1,372,631 votes to Shapiro’s 578,402. Over the next several decades, the winning candidate’s vote totals consistently hovered between 1.1 and 1.3 million. The pattern held through the victories of Jim Florio, Christie Whitman, Jim McGreevey, Jon Corzine, Chris Christie, and Phil Murphy. Even as recently as 2021, Murphy’s re-election saw him receive 1,339,471 votes to Ciattarelli’s 1,288,255—a close contest, but still within the established range.
So how did Sherrill manage to not just break, but obliterate, the ceiling? Political experts have pointed to several key factors. As reported by NJ.com, the 2025 race unfolded in a political environment “heavily influenced by Donald Trump and his supporters.” New Jersey, often seen as a reliably blue state in national elections, has pockets of intense partisan activity. Analysts noted that Sherrill’s campaign was able to both energize her base and make significant inroads among independents and moderate Republicans, a feat that has grown increasingly rare in the polarized climate of recent years.
Brent Johnson, a veteran political reporter for NJ Advance Media, highlighted the significance of Sherrill’s win. According to his coverage, the election “was notable for occurring in a political environment heavily influenced by Donald Trump and his supporters.” Despite the charged atmosphere, Sherrill’s message of pragmatic governance and her reputation for bipartisanship appeared to resonate with a broad cross-section of voters. In the words of one political analyst cited by NJ.com, “Sherrill’s victory is a testament to her ability to build coalitions and appeal to New Jersey’s diverse electorate.”
Of course, the numbers tell their own story. Sherrill’s 1.8 million-plus votes smashed the previous record by more than 500,000. Ciattarelli’s total, while not enough for victory, would have been a winning figure in almost any other year. This surge in participation suggests that New Jerseyans were more engaged than ever, perhaps galvanized by the high stakes and the national attention the race attracted.
Looking back at the last 45 years, the ebb and flow of New Jersey’s gubernatorial politics offers a fascinating chronicle of the state’s evolving priorities. In 1989, Jim Florio (D) won with 1,379,937 votes, a commanding 61.2 percent of the total. Four years later, Republican Christie Whitman edged Florio out by just over 26,000 votes, in another nail-biter. Whitman would go on to narrowly win re-election in 1997, besting Jim McGreevey by fewer than 27,000 votes. McGreevey would have his turn in 2001, winning with 1,256,753 votes, while Democrat Jon Corzine took the 2005 contest with 1,244,551 votes. The 2009 and 2013 elections saw Chris Christie (R) win first with 1,174,445 votes and then with a landslide 1,278,932 votes, the latter representing 60.3 percent of the vote.
In more recent years, Phil Murphy’s victories in 2017 and 2021, with 1,203,110 and 1,339,471 votes respectively, seemed to confirm the state’s pattern of moderate margins and stable turnout. Yet, as Townsquare Media observed, “For the past 45 years, the winning candidate for Governor of New Jersey finished with between 1.1 million and 1.3 million votes. Mikie Sherrill will likely hit 1.9 million votes. That’s beyond anything that I could have imagined going into this hard-fought election.”
What does this unprecedented result mean for New Jersey’s future? Experts are already debating the implications. Some see Sherrill’s win as a sign that New Jersey’s electorate is becoming more engaged and that statewide races are no longer immune to the nationalization of American politics. Others caution that the unique dynamics of 2025—a high-profile contest, the presence of national figures, and perhaps a reaction against the Trump-influenced environment—may not be easily replicated in future cycles.
Still, the numbers don’t lie. Sherrill’s runaway victory and the record-breaking turnout have set a new benchmark for what’s possible in New Jersey politics. As provisional and drop box ballots continue to be counted, her total is expected to climb even higher, cementing her place in the state’s political history. Meanwhile, Ciattarelli’s strong showing underscores the enduring competitiveness of New Jersey’s Republican base, even in the face of daunting odds.
Ultimately, the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial race will be remembered not just for its numbers, but for the way it captured the complexities, passions, and surprises of American democracy. For those who thought they’d seen it all in the Garden State, this election proved there’s always room for one more shock to the system.
