By: Richard L. Smith
Democrat Mikie Sherrill won New Jersey’s governorship late Tuesday, defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli and keeping the State House in Democratic hands. 
The Associated Press and multiple outlets called the race overnight, framing it as one of the year’s marquee contests.
Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor who has represented NJ-11 in Congress since 2019, struck a forward-looking tone in her victory remarks, pledging pragmatic, solutions-first leadership on affordability, public safety, and economic growth.
National and local coverage underscored the significance: it’s a high-profile Democratic hold in one of only two gubernatorial races on the ballot this year.
For Ciattarelli, the loss marks his third bid for the governorship after falling short in the 2017 GOP primary and the 2021 general election, a testament to his staying power inside New Jersey Republican politics, but also a reminder of the party’s statewide headwinds.
Turnout dynamics told the story.
Essex County, anchored by Newark, delivered one of Sherrill’s largest cushions in the state, part of a broad coalition that stretched across Democratic-leaning urban centers and vote-rich suburbs.
As of noon on Election Day, districts 30 and 31 in Newark’s West Ward saw record numbers of voters through the day.
Early and election-day returns from county maps showed the decisive blue wall that ultimately put her over the top, with NPR, the Washington Post, and AP’s live tallies all pointing to strong margins there.