So, if you’re looking to find out who won the governor in NJ, the answer is Mikie Sherrill. Honestly, it was a bit of a whirlwind.
She didn't just win; she basically reshaped the map of New Jersey politics on November 4, 2025. It feels like just yesterday everyone was wondering if the "Red Wave" that clipped the state in 2021 and 2024 was going to finally crash over Trenton. It didn't. Sherrill, the former Navy helicopter pilot and congresswoman from the 11th District, beat Republican Jack Ciattarelli by a margin that caught a lot of the experts off guard.
We’re talking about a 14.4% gap. 1,896,610 votes for Sherrill compared to 1,417,705 for Ciattarelli.
That is a massive swing. Especially when you consider that four years ago, Governor Phil Murphy barely squeaked by the same guy, Jack Ciattarelli, by just about three points. This time? It wasn't even close by the time the late-night returns from Bergen and Essex started pouring in.
The Numbers Behind Who Won the Governor in NJ
Let’s get into the weeds for a second because the data is where the story gets really interesting. Sherrill took 56.9% of the popular vote. Ciattarelli landed at 42.5%. The rest was split between minor party candidates like Vic Kaplan (Libertarian) and Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party), who together barely made a dent with about 0.6%.
The voter turnout was actually the highest the state has seen since 1997. Over 51% of registered voters showed up. In a "non-presidential" year, that’s huge. It shows people were actually fired up, or maybe just really anxious about where the state was headed.
🔗 Read more: Johnny Somali AI Deepfake: What Really Happened in South Korea
A Breakdown of the Battleground Counties
If you want to understand why Sherrill won, you have to look at Morris County. This is Sherrill’s home turf, and it used to be a Republican stronghold.
- Morris County: Sherrill became the first Democrat to win here since 1973. Think about that. Over 50 years of GOP dominance snapped in one night.
- Bergen County: She carried it with a double-digit lead (D+11), which is usually the death knell for any Republican statewide candidate.
- Hunterdon County: She lost it, sure. But she lost it by single digits. The last time a Democrat kept it that close was 1977.
Basically, the "Blue Wall" didn't just hold; it expanded. While Ciattarelli swept the southern and coastal parts like Ocean County (R+34) and Cape May (R+17), it wasn't enough to offset the massive population centers in the north.
Why the Race Went the Way It Did
Most people thought this would be a toss-up. After the 2024 presidential election, where New Jersey looked a lot "redder" than usual, Republicans were feeling confident. Jack Ciattarelli had a lot of name recognition. He had the endorsement of Donald Trump. He had a solid ground game.
But Sherrill played a different game. She focused heavily on "affordability"—which is the buzzword of the decade in NJ—but she also hammered home the issue of reproductive rights. She linked Ciattarelli to the national GOP platform at every single debate.
There was also that drama during the second debate. Remember the military records thing? Sherrill had to defend herself against questions about her Naval Academy days and the release of her records. It got messy. Ciattarelli tried to use it to pivot to "character," but Sherrill counter-punched by accusing him of profiting from the opioid crisis through his past business ventures.
💡 You might also like: Sweden School Shooting 2025: What Really Happened at Campus Risbergska
It was a knock-down, drag-out fight. And it was expensive. We’re talking over $62 million spent during the primary season alone. By the time the general election rolled around, the airwaves were basically nothing but attack ads.
Breaking the 1961 "Curse"
Historically, New Jersey has this weird habit of alternating parties. Usually, after eight years of a Democrat, the state gets bored or annoyed and elects a Republican. That didn't happen this time.
By winning, Sherrill secured a third consecutive term for the Democratic party. That hasn't happened in Jersey since 1961. It signals a major shift. It suggests that the suburban voters—the "soccer moms" and "security dads" in places like Somerset and Passaic—are staying put in the blue column for now.
What This Means for 2026
Sherrill is set to be sworn in on January 20, 2026. She’ll be the 57th governor and only the second woman to ever hold the job (Christine Todd Whitman was the first). She also brings a unique resume: federal prosecutor and military veteran.
The national implications are pretty obvious. This was the first major election cycle since the start of the second Trump term. Both parties were looking at NJ to see which way the wind was blowing. For Democrats, this landslide is a massive shot of adrenaline. For Republicans, it’s back to the drawing board to figure out how to win back the suburbs.
📖 Related: Will Palestine Ever Be Free: What Most People Get Wrong
What Most People Get Wrong About the Result
You’ll hear some people say that NJ is just a "Deep Blue" state and this was inevitable. That’s kinda lazy analysis. If you look at the 2024 margins, Trump actually did remarkably well in NJ, losing by only 6 points.
The reason Sherrill won wasn't because the state is inherently progressive. It was because she ran as a "pragmatic" Democrat. She picked Dale Caldwell, the President of Centenary University, as her Lieutenant Governor. It was a pick that screamed "stability" and "education."
Ciattarelli’s choice of Morris County Sheriff James Gannon was actually a smart move—Gannon is well-liked—but it couldn't overcome the "Trump factor" in the suburbs. In the end, voters in the "donut" counties (the ones surrounding NYC) chose the pilot over the businessman.
Practical Next Steps for NJ Residents
Now that the dust has settled and the winner is clear, here is what you should actually keep an eye on as the new administration takes over in 2026:
- Watch the Budget: Sherrill campaigned on property tax relief. The "Anchor" and "Stay NJ" programs are the big ones. Watch how she handles those in her first 100 days.
- Transit Upgrades: With a former federal rep in the governor’s seat, expect a big push for more federal funding for NJ Transit and the Gateway Tunnel project.
- The Legislative Balance: Democrats kept control of the General Assembly too. This means Sherrill won't have much "gridlock" to deal with, so there's really no excuse for not moving on campaign promises.
- Check Your Registration: Even though the big one is over, local elections happen every year. Make sure you're still active on the NJ Voter Information Portal.
The 2025 election proved that New Jersey is still a state that values a specific kind of moderate, battle-tested leadership. Whether Sherrill can actually lower those infamous property taxes remains to be seen, but for now, the "Sherrill Era" has officially begun.