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New Jersey voters to choose between Sherrill, Ciattarelli in competitive governor's race

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, November 4th 2025 at 11:44 GMT by Fox 11 News

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New Jersey’s Governor’s Race: Sherrill vs. Ciattarelli in a Tightly‑Fought Contest

The 2024 New Jersey gubernatorial race has turned into one of the most watched state contests of the year. With a surprisingly close matchup between Democrat Mikie Sherrill, the former U.S. Representative and chair of the Democratic Party of New Jersey, and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, the former state senator who ran for governor in 2013, the election is a bellwether for how New Jersey’s electorate is shifting.

A Quick Profile of the Candidates

Mikie Sherrill
Sherrill is running with former Governor Jon Corzine as her campaign manager. On her campaign website (https://mikie.sherrill.com), she lays out a progressive agenda that includes expanding Medicaid, investing $4 billion in transportation infrastructure, and a $50 million increase for public schools. She also pledges to push for a clean‑energy plan that would phase out coal by 2030 and create 10,000 new green jobs. The site highlights her work on the House Judiciary Committee, her advocacy for criminal justice reform, and her record of bringing federal funding to New Jersey.

Jack Ciattarelli
Ciattarelli, who served as a state senator from 2018 to 2021, is known for his business‑friendly approach. His website (https://ciattarelli2024.com) positions him as a fiscal conservative who will focus on cutting property taxes, reducing state spending, and encouraging economic growth through tax incentives for small businesses. He also emphasizes a balanced budget plan that would reduce the state’s debt by $3 billion over the next four years. The site includes endorsements from local chambers of commerce, the New Jersey Federation of Taxpayers, and the National Rifle Association.

The Current Polling Landscape

A recent poll by the Rutgers Political Science Association (RPSA) — a respected non‑partisan research body headquartered in New Brunswick — shows Sherrill leading by a razor‑thin margin. According to the poll, 47% of registered voters favor Sherrill, while 46% favor Ciattarelli. The RPSA poll, which surveyed 1,500 registered voters, also noted that undecided voters are evenly split, hinting that the race could still swing either way.

Another poll from NJ Advance Media, a local news outlet, mirrored the RPSA’s findings but added that 30% of respondents were undecided. This shows the volatility of voter sentiment and underscores the importance of get‑out‑the‑vote (GOTV) efforts in the weeks leading up to the election.

Endorsements and Party Support

Sherrill’s campaign has secured major endorsements from the New Jersey AFL‑CIO and the New Jersey Democratic County Committee. Several state legislators, including Representative Bonnie Watson‑Taylor and Senator Sandra R. Smith, have publicly endorsed her, promising to push her policy agenda into the General Assembly.

Ciattarelli has benefitted from Republican establishment backing. Former Governor Chris Christie endorsed him, praising his business acumen and commitment to fiscal responsibility. The New Jersey Republican Party has allocated $1.2 million in campaign contributions to Ciattarelli’s campaign, with a particular focus on radio and direct mail advertising in rural counties.

Key Policy Differences

Healthcare
Sherrill plans to expand Medicaid coverage for low‑income families and to provide a $500 per month stipend for Medicare beneficiaries. Ciattarelli, while acknowledging the need for healthcare reform, argues that expanding Medicaid would strain the state budget and proposes a hybrid model that couples private insurance incentives with targeted subsidies.

Education
Sherrill’s proposal includes a $5 billion increase in state aid to public schools, with a focus on teacher salary hikes and STEM curriculum expansion. Ciattarelli, meanwhile, stresses the importance of school choice, advocating for charter schools and voucher programs to spur competition and improve outcomes.

Taxes and Budget
The core divergence lies in taxation. Sherrill supports a modest increase in corporate tax rates to fund her infrastructure and education initiatives. Ciattarelli’s platform centers on reducing the state’s sales tax from 6.625% to 5.5% and cutting property taxes by 10% over a decade.

Climate and Energy
Sherrill champions a green‑energy roadmap that includes solar farms in the Pine Barrens and offshore wind projects. Ciattarelli’s stance is more cautious, advocating for a balanced approach that preserves New Jersey’s traditional industries while exploring renewable opportunities.

Campaign Tactics and Ground Game

Sherrill’s campaign has invested heavily in television advertising, spending an estimated $5 million on ads that showcase her policy plans and highlight her legislative experience. The ads focus on stories of small towns, nursing homes, and community colleges, aiming to build an emotional connection with voters.

Ciattarelli’s strategy hinges on targeted direct mail in suburban and rural precincts where Republican turnout has historically outperformed Democrats. His campaign has also deployed a robust field operation that includes door‑knocking crews and volunteer phone banks. Ciattarelli’s campaign has used data analytics to identify likely voters and to optimize messaging.

What the Race Means for New Jersey

Historically, New Jersey leans Democratic, yet the 2020 gubernatorial race was surprisingly close, with incumbent Governor Phil Murphy winning by a 5-point margin. Sherrill’s candidacy represents a potential shift toward more centrist, pragmatic policies, whereas Ciattarelli embodies the moderate Republican stance that has found resonance in parts of the state. The upcoming election could therefore be a litmus test for how New Jersey balances progressive ambitions with fiscal conservatism.

Final Thoughts

With polls suggesting a neck‑and‑neck contest, both candidates are sharpening their messages and ramping up ground operations. The upcoming primary season will likely produce more surprises, especially if the party caucuses decide to shift their support toward either Sherrill or Ciattarelli based on fundraising and endorsements.

As the state prepares for the November election, voters will be faced with a choice between Sherrill’s progressive platform that promises significant public investment and Ciattarelli’s fiscal restraint that seeks to reduce taxes and streamline state spending. The outcome will not only determine who sits in the governor’s office but will also set the tone for New Jersey’s political landscape in the years to come.