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NJ Governor's Race
OCTOBER 16, 2025
This November 4th, voters across New Jersey will have the opportunity to elect a new governor to replace two-term incumbent Phil Murphy, who has served since 2017. 6.3 million eligible voters will decide on Election Day which of the two main candidates–Mikie Sherrill or Jack Ciattarelli–should lead the state for the next four years.
The candidates’ main issues, as highlighted in the recent October 8th debate, largely centered on the direction of New Jersey and the country. When questioned about Governor Murphy’s term, Sherrill said that she would “give him a B”, citing his work with pensions as a positive, while emphasizing the need for more progress on New Jersey’s high cost of living and transportation. In contrast, Ciattarelli characterized Murphy’s governorship as a failure, blaming it for “an affordability crisis” tied to high property taxes, housing costs, public safety concerns, overdevelopment, and, most notably, issues in the state’s education system.
Sophomore Marco Rappa, said, “I honestly felt very inspired by this debate. Sherill and Ciatteralli have both proven that they are qualified. However, when it comes to the issues, Sherill has presented a front of change, while Ciateralli has preached stagnation. In a nation that has become so divided, I think a shift towards unity and inclusion is most important”.
On the national level, discussions frequently shifted to President Donald Trump, underscoring how much the national political climate continues to influence New Jersey’s race. The candidates expressed sharply polar views of Trump, reflecting the broader polarization of American politics.
Senior Arden Serbest said, “It is so upsetting for me to see the community that I exist in and love be so divided. We can relate to each other but we can’t connect because the political world is looming over us all of the time. When I go out with people I know, I love to speak politically (because I think that discourse is important and strengthens us as people and society), but I do not want to fight. We should be able to understand each other politically and emotionally while knowing that the two are not the same.”
“I’ve heard several times already tonight that President Trump seems to be responsible for everything wrong in New Jersey,” Ciattarelli said in response to Sherrill’s statements about the recent government shutdown, which began on October 1st.
Both candidates also resorted to personal attacks, underscoring the increasingly combative tone of the campaign less than a month before Election Day. In one of the debate’s most heated moments, Sherrill accused Ciattarelli of “made his millions” by working with people who claimed opioids were safe, and that he was “publishing their propaganda” as thousands of New Jersey citizens died. Ciattarelli fired back saying, “Shame on you,” and criticizing President Biden’s administration for its handling of the fentanyl crisis. He also accused Sherrill of having “no problem whatsoever with tens of thousands of people” crossing the border and impacting communities.
The exchange of personal attacks continued throughout the debate, with Ciattarelli even bringing up Sherill’s inability to walk at her U.S. Naval Academy graduation during a national cheating scandal.
Despite the heated rhetoric, the race remains close. According to the New York Times, most independent polls show Mikie Sherrill is leading Jack Ciattarelli by only about 5 to 10 points. With the election fast approaching, the outcome could go either way–and the candidates opposing visions for New Jersey will have long reaching consequences for the state and its citizens, including the students of EBHS.
