Latest news with #NewJerseyPrimaries
New York Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Voters Head to the Polls in Key Primaries for New Jersey Governor
One candidate for governor of New Jersey was arrested. Another won a coveted endorsement from President Trump. And the rules that for decades governed primaries in the state were deemed unconstitutional, shattering the traditional playbook for all the candidates hoping to be elected the next governor. On Tuesday, voters will cast their final primary ballots, closing a yearslong chapter in an extraordinary election cycle. The winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries will compete in November's general election after a race heavily influenced by external forces. After lawsuits and a ruling by a federal judge, the names of six Democrats and five Republicans vying for their party's nomination were printed on ballots redesigned to diminish the power of county political bosses. The candidates competed for attention from a shrinking number of news outlets. And the messages they delivered were frequently overshadowed by the upheaval in Washington that has defined the first five months of Mr. Trump's second term as president. The primary matchups feature seasoned and politically savvy candidates, and the nominees selected are likely to win by narrow margins, leading a Princeton University elections expert to make a case last week for ranked-choice voting, a selection process already used in New York City. The Democratic competition includes two members of Congress, Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer; two big city mayors, Ras J. Baraka of Newark and Steven Fulop of Jersey City; Sean Spiller, the president of the New Jersey Education Association; and Steve Sweeney, a former State Senate president. The leading candidates on the Republican side are Jack Ciattarelli, a former state assemblyman who in 2021 came within three points of beating Gov. Philip D. Murphy; Bill Spadea, a former radio show host; and State Senator Jon M. Bramnick. Where Do the Candidates for New Jersey Governor Stand on the Issues? The New York Times sent a wide-ranging survey to candidates for governor of New Jersey about housing, immigration, abortion, transit, affordability, schools and climate. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Primary day in New Jersey governor's race could offer hints on how voters feel about Trump
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] TRENTON, N..J. (AP) — New Jersey voters on Tuesday will settle the Democratic and Republican primaries for governor in a contest that could send signals about how the public is responding to President Donald Trump's agenda and how Democratic voters think their leaders should push back. New Jersey is one of just two states with a race for governor this year — the other is Virginia — and the fact two-term Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is term-limited has created fresh drama for the open seat. There's a six-way race on the Democratic side that features several seasoned political figures. Trump's endorsement of former state lawmaker Jack Ciattarelli may have given him a boost on the Republican side, where he faces four primary challengers. Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday, but it's not the only day of voting. Early in-person voting was held from June 3-8. Mail-in ballots were sent to voters beginning in April. The contest hinges in part on New Jersey issues, including high property taxes and the soaring cost of living, but national politics are sure to figure in. Trump, who has long had a strong presence in New Jersey, waded into the race with his endorsement, attacking Democratic control of state government. Democrats are looking for a winning message and leadership after the sting of bitter losses in 2024. 'Because these are the first major elections since Donald Trump's return to the White House, there's a tremendous amount at stake simply through public perception,' said Ben Dworkin, director of the Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship. For Democrats? 'They'll just get further in a hole if they don't hold this seat,' he said. For Republicans? They could win because New Jersey tends to be purple during gubernatorial years, Dworkin said, but that would be viewed as a tremendous victory for Trump. The Democrats running are Mayors Ras Baraka of Newark and Steven Fulop of Jersey City; U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill; teachers union President Sean Spiller and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney. The Democratic campaign has been hard fought and pricey, with tens of millions spent in one of the country's most expensive media markets. On the Republican side, most of the candidates declared their support for the president's agenda, pressing for a state-level version of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency. They've also said they would end so-called sanctuary policies and, in a New Jersey-specific pitch, called for the end of the state's 2020 law banning single-use plastic bags. Ciattarelli has said he would sign an order on his first day in office ending New Jersey's Immigrant Trust Directive, which bars local police from cooperating with federal officials on civil immigration matters. He has also said he would direct whomever he names attorney general to end lawsuits against the Trump administration, including a case aimed at stopping the president's order ending birthright citizenship for people whose parents were in the country illegally. Murphy, who became the first Democrat to be reelected in more than four decades in 2021, is barred from running again by term limits and hasn't endorsed a successor in the primary. Both parties will look to build their general election campaigns on widespread voter frustration. For Democrats, that means focusing on the parts of Trump's aggressive second-term agenda that are unpopular. Republicans, meanwhile, are casting blame for economic hardships on Democrats who've run state government for the last eight years. New Jersey has been reliably Democratic in Senate and presidential contests for decades. But the odd-year races for governor have tended to swing back and forth, and each of the last three GOP governors has won a second term. Democrats have the largest share of registered voters in the state, followed closely by independent voters and then Republicans, who have roughly 800,000 fewer registrations than the Democratic Party. But the GOP has made gains in recent years, shaving the Democrats' lead of more than 1 million more registrations to the current level.
CBS News
5 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.
