Latest news with #GubernatorialElection
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat Mikie Sherrill wins NJ gubernatorial primary, setting up showdown with Trump-backed GOP winner
MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Rep. Mikie Sherrill won New Jersey's Democrat gubernatorial primary on Tuesday night. The Associated Press projects that Sherrill has won the primary, which tees up a competitive race against three-time gubernatorial candidate and former GOP state lawmaker Jack Ciattarelli to replace Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy, who is term-limited this year. Sherill swept a crowded field of Democrat candidates, including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney and fellow U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer. Democrat and Republican candidates often mentioned President Donald Trump's name on the New Jersey campaign trail as Democrats positioned themselves as the most anti-Trump and Republicans vied to be the most pro-Trump candidate. It was Ciattarelli who landed the Trump endorsement as Democrats worked to contrast the president's vision with their own. Trump Not On Ballot, But President Front And Center In New Jersey's Primary For Governor New Jersey is one of just two governor's races in 2025, along with Virginia. Both will be used by politicians and pundits to gauge how Americans are responding to Trump's second term ahead of the midterm elections next year. Read On The Fox News App Trump Front-and-center In Republican Primary For Governor As Early Voting Kicks Off As they campaigned for the coveted nomination, Democrat candidates walked a fine line between building on Murphy's legacy and promising to change the status quo in Trenton. Like Murphy, Democrat candidates have rejected Trump's executive orders, his crackdown on illegal immigration and the Department of Government Efficiency spending cuts. Acting as the last line of defense to a sweeping Republican agenda, Democrat governors have often rejected Trump's executive actions during his second term. By suing the Trump administration to unlock federal funds or refusing to comply with ICE deportations, Democrat governors, including many rumored to harbor 2028 presidential ambitions, are often leading the party's resistance to Trump. Trump once again took center stage on Tuesday as Sherrill and Gottheimer were peppered with questions by the press about the protests and riots unfolding in Los Angeles. When asked how she would handle the ongoing situation in Los Angeles differently from Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sherrill touted her military and law enforcement background and told Fox News Digital she would stand up "strongly in favor of keeping people here in the state safe," return safety to the streets and continue "speaking out against a president who is trying to create violence in the country." Sherrill is a Navy veteran and served in the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey as an outreach and re-entry coordinator, which she described as prosecuting federal cases and advising law enforcement on investigations. "Governor Newsom surged law enforcement in, and what Trump seems to be doing is trying to add fuel to the fire and really make the situation violent and bad," Sherrill told reporters after casting her ballot in Montclair on Tuesday morning. "That's completely unacceptable." Gottheimer said it was "outrageous" for Trump to send the National Guard to California without Newsom's request. "The fact that the president, for the first time since 1965, sent troops in from the National Guard without a request from the governor is outrageous. It's just more chaos that we're used to having in this administration. It's not how I would approach this," Gottheimer told Fox News Digital after voting in Tenafly. Democrat candidates threw their support behind Baraka last month after he was arrested for trespassing at an ICE facility in Newark. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called it a "beyond bizarre political stunt," but Baraka has maintained that he did nothing wrong. Last week, Baraka filed a lawsuit against Alina Habba, U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, and DHS Agent Ricky Patel "for false arrest, malicious prosecution, and defamation." Trump outperformed in the Garden State in 2024, according to Fox News Voter Analysis. While former Vice President Kamala Harris won New Jersey in 2024 as expected, Trump saw a nearly five-point improvement from his 2020 vote share, and Harris' support dropped by about five points. He gained across New Jersey, with his largest swings in the northeast corner of the state; Hudson and Passaic counties led the pack. Ciattarelli lost by a hair to Murphy in 2021 and framed his candidacy as a referendum on the Democrat policies that have driven New Jersey for the past eight years. Fox News' Remy Numa contributed to this report. Original article source: Democrat Mikie Sherrill wins NJ gubernatorial primary, setting up showdown with Trump-backed GOP winner
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
President Trump is looming large in both New Jersey gubernatorial primaries
More than 450,000 voters have already cast ballots in the New Jersey gubernatorial primaries either by mail or during early voting, but there is one person who looms large and he's not on the ballot. Regardless of the side of the aisle you are on, President Trump is a big factor in the campaigns of the six Democrats and five Republicans running to replace Gov. Phil Murphy. President Trump figures prominently in ad wars More than $85 million has been spent on ads, making it the most expensive election in state history, and the president is at the center of many of them. "Loyalty matters to President Trump," Republican Bill Spadea says in one ad. "Bill, you've had my back from the beginning," Trump responds. Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer says in one he's "fighting for New Jersey to stop Donald Trump's tariffs and chaos. Now he's ready for the big one." Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill says in another she's going "to stand up to Trump and Musk with all I've got." Dr. Matthew Hall, chairman of the Political Science Department at Seton Hall University, said he's not surprised Mr. Trump has become the focal point of the gubernatorial primary elections for both major parties. "I'm not particularly surprised that Trump has sort of taken over the New Jersey election. He tends to suck the oxygen out of all politics," Hall said. "We're so polarized right now that you have groups of people who think that Donald Trump walks on water, and groups of people who want to drown him in that water." Mr. Trump likely sees N.J. as a prize for many reasons Last November, Mr. Trump had a stronger-than-expected showing in the Garden State, losing to Democrat Kamala Harris by only six points after losing to Joe Biden in 2020 by 16. And with only two governors up for election this fall -- New Jersey and Virginia -- Mr. Trump is placing his thumb on the scale. He endorsed Republican poll leader Jack Ciattarelli even though Ciattarelli called him a charlatan when he ran against Murphy four years ago. During a recent tele-rally with Ciattarelli, the president alluded to the election's importance to him and his presidency. Read more: Newark Airport, NJ Transit issues discussed at New Jersey Republican gubernatorial debate "It's being watched, actually, all over the world, because New Jersey is ready to pop out of that blue horror show and really get in there and vote for somebody that's going to make things happen," Trump said. Kramer explained why Mr. Trump chose to endorse Ciattarelli over Spadea, who has been an ardent supporter, saying it's simple math and a desire to win. Ciattarelli is way ahead in the polls and he came within three points of beating Murphy four years ago. As for why it's so important for the candidate the president supports to win, Kramer said in many ways she thinks Mr. Trump sees it as a referendum on his first five months in office, adding he's mindful of what turning a traditionally blue state red could do for his publicity. She said it would be a big feather in his cap and would also help him next November during the midterms if he can have bragging rights for New Jersey having a Republican chief executive. What voters think about the President Trump X-factor The question is: will Mr. Trump's endorsement affect how people vote? "He is currently leading the country, so there's a lot of people that do follow him," one New Jerseyan said. "I guess so I don't know," another said. "No, I don't think it will," another said. "Yes, it might," another added.
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
More polling problems for this blue state Democrat governor facing re-election next year
Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's approval ratings are holding slightly in positive territory, but a new poll indicates a majority of New Yorkers would still prefer someone else to win the 2026 election for governor in the Empire State. A Siena College poll released on Tuesday also suggests that Rep. Elise Stefanik is the polling frontrunner among three major Republicans considering runs for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, in the race to challenge Hochul next year. According to the poll, which was conducted May 12-15, 36% of registered voters in New York state said they would vote to re-elect Hochul to a second four-year term, with a majority (55%) saying they wanted someone else. It is a 10-point negative movement for Hochul compared to Siena's April survey, when 39% of those questioned said they were prepared to vote to re-elect the governor and 48% who wanted someone else. Fifty-one percent of Democrats surveyed in the new poll said at this early point in the 2026 election cycle they are prepared to re-elect Hochul, with 38% of Democrats saying they want "someone else." The percentage of voters who prefer another candidate jumps to 64% among independents and 82% among Republicans in blue state New York. "Even more Republicans – 82% up from 68% last month – and independents – 64% up from 55% – prefer 'someone else' to be the next governor, while a small majority of Democrats, 51%, say they are prepared to reelect her," Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. Hochul, who at the time was the state's lieutenant governor, in August 2021 was sworn in as New York's first female governor, after three-term Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace amid multiple scandals. She defeated then-Rep. Lee Zeldin by just over six points in 2022 to win a full four-year term steering New York. Zeldin's showing was the best by a Republican gubernatorial nominee in blue-state New York since then-GOP Gov. George Pataki won re-election to a third term in 2002. In July of last year, Hochul announced her intention to run for re-election in 2026. The governor's approval ratings in the new poll are slightly above water, at 50% approval and 46% disapproval, while her favorable rating is just underwater, at 44% favorable and 46% unfavorable. The poll was conducted after the governor and the legislature reached final agreement on a $254 billion budget, which includes provisions for tax cuts, increased benefits and investments in various areas like education and healthcare. When asked whether issues the governor touted in the budget – inflation rebate checks, middle-class tax cuts, free public school meals, and increasing the child tax credit – will make New York more affordable, the poll indicates 52% said a lot or somewhat, with 43% saying not very much or not at all. The poll indicates Hochul continues to hold a wide lead over her two potential Democratic primary challengers. Forty-six percent of Democrats say they would support Hochul for their party's gubernatorial nomination, compared to 12% for Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and 10% for Rep. Ritchie Torres. "Two potential Hochul rivals for the Democratic nomination for governor next year – Delgado and Torres –remain largely unknown to a majority of voters and a majority of Democrats," Greenberg said. In the race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, 35% of Republican voters said they would support Stefanik, the six-term GOP representative from upstate New York. Stefanik, who is part of the House Republican leadership and a strong supporter and ally of President Donald Trump, has said she is seriously considering a run for governor. Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents a swing congressional district in suburban New York City and who is also eyeing a campaign for governor, grabbed 22% support in the poll. Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, another major Trump ally and potential gubernatorial candidate, was at 11%. Trump stands at 40% approval and 57% disapproval among New York State voters, according to the poll, with his favorable rating at 38%-59%. Greenberg noted that "81% of Democrats disapprove of the job Trump is doing as president, while 82% of Republicans approve, and independents are closely divided." The survey had an overall sampling error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.
Fox News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump endorses Jack Ciattarelli for New Jersey governor: 'A winner'
President Donald Trump endorsed his former critic Jack Ciattarelli for governor of New Jersey on Monday. "Jack Ciattarelli is a terrific America First Candidate running to be the next Governor of a State that I love, NEW JERSEY!" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. Trump said Ciattarelli has gone "ALL IN" and that, if elected, he would work closely with the Trump administration to grow the economy, cut taxes and regulations, help secure the border, stop migrant crime, protect veterans, advance American energy and more. "Also, Jack is the Republican Candidate who is best positioned to STAND TALL against the Radical Left Democrats and, most importantly, ensure a Big Victory in this Very Important Gubernatorial Election, an Election that is being closely watched by the entire World because, we are ending WOKE, and all of the other NONSENSE that goes along with it, AND NOBODY WANTS TO SEE IT COME BACK!," Trump continued in his endorsement. Ciattarelli responded to the endorsement on X, saying he was "truly humbled and honored to receive President Trump's very strong endorsement today. It's time to unite our party, win big in November, and make New Jersey affordable and safe again." Ciattarelli finished his post by saying "When I am Governor, we will." Trump and Ciattarelli appear to be turning a new leaf. Ciattarelli was once a harsh Trump critic, going so far as to call Trump a "charlatan" and saying he was "not fit to be President of the United States" back in 2015. Ciattarelli seems to have changed his stance on Trump since those comments and was even seen at Trump's Wildwood, New Jersey, rally in 2020 shaking hands and taking photos with event-goers. Ciattarelli appeared to gain popularity, and in 2021 came within three points of defeating Democratic incumbent Governor Phil Murphy. Now, he will face Bill Spadea, a conservative radio host, and State Senator Jon Bramnick in the June 10 Republican primary. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Spadea reacted to Trump's endorsement of Ciattarelli. "Donald Trump's endorsement comes after a years long effort by Jack to lie about his own record," Spadea said in part. "My resolve to fight for the people of New Jersey has never been greater. I intend to continue fighting for the America First agenda because that is what's best for the state and our nation." The New Jersey Democratic Governors Association (DGA) also blasted the endorsement. "This endorsement just confirms what we already knew: Jack Ciattarelli would put Donald Trump before New Jersey," DGA Communications Director Sam Newton said in a statement. " As Governor, Ciattarelli would bring Trump's agenda of higher costs and chaos to Trenton – instead of fighting to protect New Jersey's freedoms and working to make life more affordable."
