List of Republicans running for governor in NJ
NEW JERSEY - Four Republicans will face off in a debate Tuesday as they compete to succeed term-limited Governor Phil Murphy.
With the June 2025 primary approaching, the race includes a mix of longtime lawmakers and newcomers vying for the nomination.
Why you should care:
Murphy’s tenure has seen debates over congestion pricing and concerns about ICE raids. Polls show a competitive general election, with Jack Ciattarelli, who nearly defeated Murphy in 2021, as a potential frontrunner.
SKIP TO: NJ Voting| Jon Bramnick Former | Jack Ciattarelli | Ed Durr | Bill Spadea | Mario Kranjac
What you can do:
Primary elections are set for June 10, with the winner advancing to the general election on Nov. 4.
Here’s a look at the Republicans running for governor:
Former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli

Jack Ciattarelli, 63, a Somerville native, says he is focused on tackling New Jersey's affordability crisis, driven by rising taxes, tolls, and fees. Ciattarelli, a successful business founder, nearly unseated Governor Murphy in 2021, and came in second in the 2017 GOP primary.
Ciattarelli plans to cap property taxes at 1% of a home's assessed value, reform school funding, and implement commonsense solutions to everyday issues. He also advocates repealing the sanctuary state directive and pushing for term limits on state legislators.
Ciattarelli holds a strong early lead in the 2025 Republican gubernatorial race, according to a recent M3 Strategies poll, leading Bill Spadea 26% to 13%.
NJ 101.5 radio host Bill Spadea

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 17: Bill Spadea performs onstage during "An Evening of Comedy Starring Joe Gorga" at Harrah's Resort on August 17, 2024 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Manny Carabel/Getty Images)
Bill Spadea, 55, an entrepreneur, and host of the Bill Spadea Show on NJ101.5 FM, says he’s "the outsider that Democrats and Establishment Republicans are afraid of."
Spadea says he's focused on New Jersey’s budget and ending the illegal immigration crisis, which he claims costs taxpayers too much. When asked if he would support his party's winner, he said, "Yes — provided they have pledged to work with the Trump administration to fix New Jersey and the country."
State Sen. Jon Bramnick

State Senator Jon Bramnick, 71, says he wants to create a government efficiency panel with private residents and business leaders to identify waste and areas for improvement. He's been in the State Senate since 2022 and was an Assemblyman for nearly two decades prior from 2003-2021.
In a recent post on X, he emphasized the need for better healthcare access and ensuring insurance companies pay their bills.
"We must also make sure insurance companies PAY THE BILL !" Bramnick wrote.
Bramnick has also stressed the importance of Republicans winning the governorship.
Former State Sen. Ed Durr

Edward Durr headshot (AP)
Ed Durr, 61, known as "Ed the Trucker," says New Jersey is facing a crisis, with issues in governance, finances, and morality.
In 2021, Ed Durr, made headlines when he defeated then-Senate President Steve Sweeney to win a seat in the state Senate. "An unknown truck driver with a shoestring budget ousted the state’s longest-serving Senate president," POLITICO reported.
When asked why he still chose to drive his truck in July, Durr told POLITICO, "I like to drive. It’s always been something I’ve enjoyed. That’s why I’ve done it for 30 years.
President Donald Trump congratulated Ed Durr after his 2021 victory. Durr served one term in Trenton, advocating for conservative causes like limiting abortion rights and loosening gun laws, but none of his bills passed. He lost his 2023 reelection bid to a Democrat.
Former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac

Mario Kranjac is the former mayor of Englewood Cliffs, serving from 2016 to 2024.
Kranjac filed to run just days before the first GOP gubernatorial debate but remains a lesser-known contender.
Announcing his candidacy on Truth Social, he calls himself a political outsider determined to change Trenton. Since leaving office, he has continued as a corporate attorney and venture capitalist.
In 2016, Kranjac co-founded Dynamk Capital, a life sciences venture capital firm, while continuing his work as a corporate attorney and investor.
Who else is running?
- Roger Bacon – A perennial candidate and production mechanic.
- Jim Fazzone – A former mayor of Burlington City with experience in education and public service.
- Rev. Robert Canfield – A real estate broker and firearms instructor running as an outsider candidate.
When is the NJ primary election?
Key dates for New Jersey's 2025 primary election:
- June 3: Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot by mail.
- June 6-8: Early voting period.
- June 9: Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot in person.
- June 10: Primary Election Day.
Winners of the Republican and Democratic primaries will compete in the Nov. 4 general election. New Jersey and Virginia are the only states with gubernatorial races next year.