List: Democratic candidates for NJ governor
Race for NJ governor: Meet the candidates
Meet the candidates running for New Jersey's coveted governor's seat in the upcoming primary election. NJ Now talks to Democratic frontrunner Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Trump-endorsed Jack Ciattarelli and more.
NEW JERSEY - Nearly a dozen candidates are competing in New Jersey for the chance to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.
- MORE: Who is ahead in the NJ governor race? Polls, candidates, updates
- MORE: How to vote in New Jersey
The race for the Democratic nomination for governor features a crowded field of prominent current and former officeholders.
NJ governor primary: Who are the candidates?
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Democratic candidates
NJ Democratic governor candidates
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., participates in the House Democrats' news conference following their caucus meeting in the Capitol on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Sherrill is a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Navy helicopter pilot. She has represented the 11th District, which includes parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties, since her 2018 election.
Mikie Sherrill: Meet the candidates for NJ governor
New Jersey Now sits down with Democratic gubernatorial candidate and NJ-11 congressional representative Mikie Sherrill. She explains her policies, including how she plans to bring costs down for New Jerseyans, plus dives into how Pres. Trump’s policies are affecting the state and her proposal to protect children from Big Tech.
She has since won reelection three times.
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., leaves a meeting of the House Democratic Caucus about the candidacy of President Joe Biden at the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Gottheimer, a former speechwriter for Bill Clinton and adviser to the head of the Federal Communications Commission, toppled conservative Republican Rep. Scott Garrett in 2016.
Josh Gottheimer: Meet the candidates for NJ governor
New Jersey Now sits down with Democratic gubernatorial candidate and NJ-5 congressional representative Josh Gottheimer, who explains his opposition to New York’s congestion pricing plan. Plus, Gottheimer shares his views on tariffs, plans to cut property taxes and position on immigration.
Gottheimer represents the state’s 5th Congressional District, which spans parts of Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka makes a speech to press members after appearing in federal court for a status conference after his arrest outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility last week in front of the Federal Court in New Jersey, Uni
Baraka is the current mayor of Newark. First elected mayor in 2014, Baraka has spent over a decade leading Newark through economic and social changes, including reductions in crime and homelessness, and improvements in infrastructure.
Most recently, he was arrested outside the Delaney Hall federal immigration detention center while protesting its opening.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop speaks during a press conference on April 11, 2025 in Jersey City, New Jersey. Six people are dead after the sightseeing helicopter carrying a family of tourists from Spain crashed into the Hudson River off Lower Manhat
Fulop, the third-term Democratic mayor of the state’s second-biggest city, is a former Marine who served in Iraq after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Steven Fulop: Meet the candidates for NJ governor
New Jersey Now sits down with Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who explains his plans to implement a "corruption tax" to address statewide affordability concerns, shares his opinions on the Newark ICE raids and much more.
Back in January, Fulop floated the idea of a ‘reverse congestion pricing’ toll in an appearance on Good Day New York. Fulop suggested New Jersey could implement similar fees, capitalizing on the state's opportunities for cross-border tolling.
Teachers' union president Sean Spiller
Sean Spiller speaks onstage at the 15th Annual Induction Ceremony for the New Jersey Hall of Fame at NJPAC October 29, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Variety via Getty Images)
Spiller is the president of the New Jersey Education Association and former mayor of Montclair.
Sean Spiller: Meet the candidates for NJ governor
New Jersey Now sits down with Democratic gubernatorial candidate and head of the statewide teachers' union. They dive into desegregating the school system, the Trump administration’s deportation plans, winning back Democratic New Jersey voters and much more.
Spiller began as a science teacher before rising through the ranks of the New Jersey Education Association, becoming its president in 2021 after eight years on the executive board.
Former state Senate president Steve Sweeney
Steve Sweeney is running for NJ governor.
Sweeney has centered his gubernatorial campaign on reforming New Jersey’s budget process and addressing the state’s housing challenges.
Steve Sweeney: Meet the candidates for NJ governor
New Jersey Now sits down with Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former state Senate president Steve Sweeney. He explains his pledge to not raise taxes while balancing the state budget and how he plans to make New Jersey more affordable for its residents.
With 20 years of public office experience, including more than a decade as Senate president, Sweeney is banking on his experience and commitment to tackling systemic issues.
NJ primary 2025 date
Primary election day is Tuesday, June 10. Polls close at 8 p.m.
Where to vote NJ primary
Click HERE for more information.
NJ Democratic primary polls
- Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey: According to a May survey, 28% of registered New Jersey Democratic voters said they would vote for U.S. Rep, Mikie Sherrill, as Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer each had 11% of Democratic responders' support. A month ahead of the primary, 24% of Dem voters said they were undecided.
- SurveyUSA: According to a poll conducted in May, voters showed slightly more favorable options for Sherrill compared to the rest of the field. Gottheimer was a close second.
- Fundraising numbers: Gottheimer has had a slight edge in fundraising, with about $9.1 million in contributions, followed by Sherrill and Fulop, each with about $8.9 million raised for their campaigns, according to the Associated Press.