Democrat Mikie Sherrill Elected Governor of New Jersey, Defeating Opponent Who Aligned With Trump

EAST BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 04: New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) delivers remarks at her election night watch party at the Hilton East Brunswick Hotel on November 4, 2025 in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Sherrill defeated Republican assembly member Jack Ciattarelli in a tightly contested race for New Jersey governor. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill has been elected governor of New Jersey. Her victory over Republican Jack Ciattarelli shores up Democratic control of a state that has been reliably blue in presidential and Senate contests but had shown signs of shifting rightward in recent years. The four-term member of Congress centered her campaign on her biography as a Navy helicopter pilot and former prosecutor who would stand up to President Donald Trump. She will be New Jersey’s second female governor. Ciattarelli lost his second straight governor’s election after coming within a few points of defeating Gov. Phil Murphy four years ago.