5 days ago
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.
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