New Jersey's political landscape shifted dramatically on November 5, 2025, as Democrat Mikie Sherrill secured a decisive victory in the state's most expensive gubernatorial race to date. Just hours after her win over Republican Jack Ciattarelli, Sherrill stepped before the press for her first news conference, outlining her vision for the Garden State and introducing the core team that will guide her transition into office.
Sherrill's victory was propelled by an extraordinary surge in voter turnout across all 21 New Jersey counties. According to CBS News, each county saw at least a 10% increase in votes compared to the 2021 gubernatorial contest, which had been a much tighter race between Ciattarelli and outgoing Governor Phil Murphy. The most dramatic turnout spikes appeared in Hudson, Essex, and Union counties—New Jersey’s three most densely populated areas—where Sherrill won by more than 30-point margins. These urban centers, including cities like Jersey City, Newark, and Union City, turned out in force for the Democratic candidate, a phenomenon that analysts say padded her margin and solidified her landslide win.
Local races may have played a role in boosting turnout. For instance, Jersey City experienced heightened voter engagement due to its mayoral runoff, pitting Councilman James Solomon against former Governor Jim McGreevey. Meanwhile, Ocean County, a Republican stronghold along the Jersey Shore, delivered a 35-point margin for Ciattarelli and saw notable turnout increases. However, these gains were not sufficient to counterbalance the Democratic surge elsewhere in the state. CBS News estimates suggest that Sherrill succeeded in winning both early and Election-Day voters, building on a strong foundation of support banked before the polls even opened.
The day after her victory, Sherrill met with Governor Murphy to discuss transition plans and announced the leadership team that will help steer her administration. Lt. Gov.-elect Dale Caldwell will head the transition team, while Kellie Doucette, a trusted aide from Sherrill’s congressional days, will serve as executive director. The governor-elect also revealed two key senior appointments: Alex Ball as Chief of Staff and Tim Lydon as Chief Counsel. Ball, who managed Sherrill’s gubernatorial campaign, previously held chief of staff roles for members of Congress and worked with organizations like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and EMILYs List. Lydon, most recently Policy Director and General Counsel for Sherrill’s campaign, brings decades of public service experience, including time as Executive Director of the New Jersey Senate Majority Office, Director of Cabinet Affairs for Gov. Jon Corzine, Chief of Staff to Rep. John Adler, and over eight years as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge.
"As we hit the ground running for New Jersey, I am excited to announce that Alex Ball will be my Chief of Staff, and Tim Lydon will serve as Chief Counsel. Each of them brings exceptional leadership, integrity, competence, and a deep commitment to service. Their expertise and dedication will help us build an administration that delivers real results for New Jersey—a strong economy, affordable communities, and a state government focused on saving New Jerseyans time and money," Sherrill stated, as reported by InsiderNJ. Ball echoed her enthusiasm, saying, "This is a moment of great opportunity for our state, and I look forward to helping build a team that reflects New Jersey and delivers meaningful change for the people." Lydon added, "Our administration will always put the public interest first, and I look forward to working together with Alex to serve a Governor deeply committed to affordability and ruthless competence to deliver real results."
During her news conference, Sherrill laid out an ambitious agenda. She pledged to freeze utility costs upon taking office in January 2026, though she acknowledged that the specifics are still being worked out. "We’ve already had some conversations, I’ve already even during the campaign had some conversations with some of our utility companies, as well as working with some policy experts on exactly what money is coming in through the [Board of Public Utilities], and how it might be used to do that," she explained, according to WHYY News.
Her priorities extend beyond energy bills. Sherrill announced plans to pursue a kids online safety agenda, join lawsuits challenging tariffs enacted by the Trump administration, and begin work on the next state budget. She also intends to expand first-time home-buyer credits, address landlord collusion that drives up rental prices, and reform pharmacy benefit managers to lower drug costs. Education and healthcare are also on her radar: she aims to fix the state health benefits plan, improve third-grade reading scores, and lower what she describes as "bloated" school administration costs.
Despite having criticized President Donald Trump’s policies during her campaign, Sherrill signaled a willingness to work with his administration to secure federal support for New Jersey, particularly for infrastructure projects like the Gateway Tunnel. The tunnel, a proposed rail link under the Hudson River, is seen as vital for the region’s economy. On October 16, President Trump announced he was canceling plans for the new tunnel, but U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later clarified that the project remains under review. Sherrill made it clear that she would advocate vigorously for its advancement: "Certainly I’m going to be working very hard to get resources, federal resources back into New Jersey, to discuss and take on the Gateway Tunnel right away because that’s such a key issue and such an economic driver here," she told reporters.
On the contentious topic of immigration, Sherrill expressed support for aspects of the Immigrant Trust Directive—a policy that limits state and local law enforcement’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement activities. However, she did not clarify her stance on the Immigrant Trust Act, which is still awaiting a legislative vote. When asked about protecting immigrants with no criminal records who are detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Sherrill responded, "I’m committed to making sure people here feel safe, and that is what I’m going to do as governor." She also vowed to "take on" those not following the law and the Constitution, though she did not elaborate on specific measures.
Sherrill’s victory marks a historic moment for New Jersey: she becomes only the second woman ever elected governor in the state, following Christine Todd Whitman’s tenure from 1994 to 2001. The significance of her win is underscored by both the record-breaking turnout and the diverse coalition that propelled her to office. As her transition team gets to work and her administration takes shape, New Jerseyans are watching closely to see whether Sherrill and her team can deliver on their promises of affordability, transparency, and real results for the state’s nine million residents.
With a mandate as broad as the turnout that carried her to victory, Mikie Sherrill’s first steps as governor-elect set the tone for a new chapter in New Jersey politics—one defined by ambitious goals, a focus on practical solutions, and a commitment to making government work for everyone.
