With 56.6% of the New Jersey votes, Democrat Mikie Sherrill was declared the winner of the 2025 New Jersey Gubernatorial election against her Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli.
With incumbent Governor Phil Murphy reaching the end of his term, the open-seat race was widely regarded as one of the most consequential in the country. Sherrill’s campaign centered on affordability and everyday issues. She pledges to lower utility costs, reduce health care and prescription drug prices, protect reproductive rights, expand access to early childhood education, and ease housing burdens. In her victory speech, she announced plans to declare a state of emergency on energy costs on her first day in office. She aims to lower electric bills, which have increased by about 20% for Garden State residents this summer alone (The New Jersey Independent). As the first democratic woman to lead the state of New Jersey, many see her election win as a victory for the stage of change (Rutgers Today).
New Jersey’s gubernatorial race reached nationwide attention alongside Virginia’s race for governor and the New York Mayoral election. Political experts argue that the outcomes of these elections reflect the public’s opinion on the current presidency. Ciattarelli largely aligned his campaign with President Donald Trump’s policies, including his stance on tariffs and the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” leaving thousands of New Jersey citizens without health insurance. Trump officially endorsed Ciattarelli on May 12, 2025, through a social media post on Truth Social (POLITICO).
Sherrill, a moderate Democrat and U.S. Navy veteran, won her House seat in 2018 and has represented New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District in the northern suburban region since 2019 (The New Jersey Independent). Polling in the months leading up to Election Day suggested a competitive race, though Sherrill consistently held a modest lead. Analysts in a survey conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University credited Sherrill’s ability to appeal to moderate and independent voters, particularly in suburban counties that have historically been swing areas.
Our very own Ramapo community took a close look at voter projections. The Junior State of America club holds meetings where they look into topics that are on people’s minds or tend to get people excited, like an upcoming election. JSA took a survey of Ramapo students to bring attention to the platforms of the gubernatorial candidates. They had around 119 students vote and the majority voted for Jack Ciattarelli. After the mock election, they held a meeting to discuss the platforms of each candidate and what people thought of them.
Advisor of the club, Mr. Basili said, “A key takeaway during our mock election at school was that we had many people tell us they did not know enough about the candidates to even vote.” Although the club has been taking steps to get students involved, there’s always room for more involvement! The Junior State of America always welcomes Ramapo students to meetings to talk and learn more about current events. Always look at Schoology to see updates and their upcoming meetings and topics.
Senior at Ramapo Emma Sanchez said, “Because this race was so close and there was extra pressure since there was no incumbent, it was interesting to watch the course of both candidates’ campaign trails. As a senior who is turning 18 soon it was surreal to watch my classmates participate in this election and knowing that it’s now our turn to take on civic responsibility.” As voter demographics continue to change with the introduction of Generation Z voters, the outcome of elections may continue to vary and new voters will continue to impact politics and elections in the United States.
As new leadership takes on New Jersey following Phil Murphy’s consecutive two terms, residents look toward a future shaped by fresh policies, evolving challenges, and the promise of meaningful change.
