Latest news with #NewJerseyPrimary
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ciattarelli, Sherrill win NJ primaries for governor. Check our live blog for all results
Hello and welcome to blog for New Jersey's 2025 primary election. Check here often for color from our reporters and analysts spread out at candidates' election night headquarters — and don't forget to check back for actual results now that polls have close at 8 p.m. and the counting has begun. There are a number of races on the ballots, including the 11 Democrats and Republicans vying to be their party's nominee for governor as Gov. Phil Murphy ends his final term in January. Our team of reporters at polling places and candidates' headquarters are ready to give updates as they happen. So sit back and enjoy the ride. -Scott FallonThe battle for the governor's seat began as heated as a burger on the White Manna grill. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee, fired the first salvo of the campaign during her acceptance speech. "A state like this is not gonna be led by a Trump-lackey like Jack Ciattarelli," she said to applause. "I'm ready to shake up the status quo, and Jack is the status quo," she said. "He's not change. He's a rerun. He's a ghost of elections past." Ciattarelli, the GOP nominee, didn't hold back either. S 'If you took a shot every time Mikie Sherrill says Trump … you will be drunk off your ass between now and Nov. 4,' Ciattarelli said before going on to say he truly believes the 'future of our state hangs in the balance.' The former assemblyman said the Democratic Party is focused more on pronouns than property taxes and said 'a vote for Mikie Sherrill is a vote for another four years of Phil Murphy.' -Erik Larsen and Gabrielle Kutsup Newark Mayor Ras Baraka: "We're never going to concede fighting authoritarianism. We're never going to concede fighting dictatorships. Standing up for the Constitution. Standing up for democracy." Former Senate President Steve Sweeney: 'While the outcome is not what we hoped for, I couldn't be more grateful to every supporter, volunteer, and voter who believed in my campaign and my vision for New Jersey.' Rep. Josh Gottheimer: "I'll never forget the faith you've put in me for the awesome responsibility you've given me to look after the Fifth District, whether that's a hungry child, a veteran, a struggling small business owner, an American held hostage in a tunnel, or a senior worried about her Social Security."New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller: 'First, I want to congratulate Congresswoman Sherrill on her hard-fought victory tonight. Now is the time for all of us to come together and ensure that an extreme politician like Jack Ciattarelli never sets foot in the governor's office." During the close of their final debate last month, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop argued that Democrats would be in danger of losing in November if the party selected a nominee who was embraced by party establishment led by Governor Murphy — a clear reference to Rep. Mikie Sherrill who stood nearby on the stage. Fulop's point was that New Jersey's Democratic Party was vulnerable to the inevitable attack by Jack Ciattarelli and Republicans that the Democrats had been in charge far too long and that Sherrill would make an easy of that argument Tuesday night, Dan Bryan, a longtime Murphy adviser and informal consultant to the Sherrill race, offered this: 'Voters told you tonight what they thought about Steve Fulop's argument.' -Charles Stile It didn't take long for the national political groups to take credit for Tuesday's primary results. The Republican State Legislative Committee, which claims to have spent $1 million on the race, began trumpeting what will be a key theme of Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli's campaign: that Democrats have ruled the roost in Trenton far too long and voters are now demanding change. 'For too long, the Democrats in Trenton have prioritized a reckless tax-and-spend agenda over the needs of the people in the Garden State. With New Jersey Republicans rallying around Jack Ciattarelli, we are well positioned to hold Democrats accountable for their poor record and work to deliver the real change that has been promised,'' the group said in a statement. The Democratic Governors Association chair, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, praised Sherrill on her win."As a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, Mikie served our country and took on tough fights to keep New Jerseyans safe, and during her time in Congress, she worked to lower costs, create good-paying jobs, and protect reproductive rights," Kelly said in a statement. "Now she's running to make life easier for Garden State families by creating economic opportunity, building more affordable housing, lowering costs, and funding public schools." The New Jersey and Virginia races for governor stand to grab the national spotlight this fall as the nation's lone statewide races. Party leaders are hoping that the outcome will serve as a barometer on President Trump's chaotic first year before next year's crucial midterm elections. -Charles Stile It'll be Mikie vs Jack this November. U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill won the Democratic nomination for governor in a race called by the Associated Press and New York Times. She will be up against former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli who received the GOP nod earlier in the evening. Sherrill emerged for a large field of candidates that included Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney. -Scott Fallon Former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli will be the Republican nominee for governor for a second time in a race called by the Associated Press and Washington Post. It took the news organizations less than a half hour after polls closed to make the call. Ciattarelli was leading in the polls heading into the primary over state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former radio personality Bill Spadea, former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, and Burlington County contractor Justin Barbera. -Scott Fallon It's been months of leaflets clogging mailboxes and a barrage of television ads every night from most of the 11 Democratic and Republican candidates vying to be their party's candidate for New Jersey governor. But will it be enough to get voters to the polls? New Jersey has had historically low turnout for most primaries thanks in large part to the state's 2.4 million unaffiliated voters. But they vary by the gravity of the election. Turnout this year might be a bit higher since the primary contest is for an open governor's seat for the first time since 2017 when Gov. Chris Christie's last term was expiring. About 15% of voters went to the polls in the 2017 primary. Primaries when the presidency is on the line draws more, with about 26% of voters casting ballots last year. When no major seat is up for grabs, turnout is usually in the single digits. Some poll workers interviewed on Tuesday were less than optimistic about reversing those trends. The rainy weather through the morning and early afternoon, many said, brought few voters out earlier in the day. -Scott Fallon It was a quiet and gloomy day at the polling center at the Senior Center of Hasbrouck Heights. The gray skies hung low as voters trickled in and out. Some residents walked out smiling, confident in their choices, while others wore more pensive expressions, weary and uncertain about what the results might bring. Hasbrouck Heights resident Jenna Santana, 45, felt it was important to vote in this year's primary. However, she said the new ballot design could negatively impact the voting process. 'I don't like it," Santana said. "I think that it was fine for me, but I feel like for people who aren't familiar with this new way and putting it in a folder and printing it, it could be very confusing and intimidating.' For others, like father-daughter duo Fred Blake, 65, and Kyra Blake, 18, the new voting format did not cause any issues. Fred Blake said 'taxes and quality of life' were two main reasons that brought him to the poll, whereas Kyra Blake was mainly excited to experience this milestone for the first time. 'I just turned 18. I wanted to go and do my civic duty for the nation,' she said. Hasbrouck Heights resident Jackie Dykeman, 58, felt voting this year could impact how national issues are handled. 'I'm really concerned about making sure we get a governor who is going to help fight against Trump and what he's doing to our country,' Dykeman said. Despite the quiet turnout, the day carried the weight of high hopes and deeper concerns about the future. -Jenna Mattern Ridgewood's polling booth at George Washington Middle School was quiet most of the day. But voters began arriving after stormy weather started to clear around 3 p.m. Claudio Barrigo, a 59-year-old Democrat, said his primary issue is lower taxes but he also believes state government needs to be stronger to make up for looming cuts to services at the federal level. He voted for former Senate President Steve Sweeney. "This year is very important because of the current federal government,' he said. 'It's very disruptive." The rain didn't wash out all the voters this morning. There was a slow but steady stream of people voting at the Pequannock Township Library. The new ballot design was noticed by voters. 'Yeah, big difference,' Lenny Barone said, who has lived in Pompton Plains for over 30 years. 'It was confusing at first, but it was fine.' There was a mix of different voters at the polling location, but most said they voted for either Jack Ciattarelli among the three Republican candidates for governor, or Mikie Sherrill among the six Democratic candidates for governor. -Liam Kahan and Gabrielle Kutsup Susan Mortaro was thrilled to hear what Rep. Josh Gottheimer had to say about lowering her taxes. That is the main reason why the Wayne resident voted for the five-term congressman from Bergen County to be the Democratic nominee for governor. Gottheimer campaigned heavily on a 'Tax Cut Plan for Jersey,' airing commercials on network TV for the past several weeks. There was something else that charmed Mortaro. 'He seems like a nice person,' she said. 'Like an everyday kind of guy.' Mortaro, 78, was among 31 voters who trickled in to the gymnasium at Ryerson School to cast ballots by noon on June 10. Poll workers acknowledged that it was a meager turnout. The K-5 school, which is about 500 feet west of the southbound lanes of Route 23, is the polling place for two voting districts in the flood-prone 1st Ward. Helen Fernicola, a registered Republican, said she voted for former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli of Somerset County to be the party nominee for governor because she agreed with his position on immigration reform. She said she also believes that he can help those on fixed incomes. 'Taxes are crazy,' said Fernicola, 84. 'Utility bills are off the wall — it's just nuts.' Roy Rosimini, a registered Republican, pulled up to the school parking lot in a large pickup truck and a big idea on his mind: Harmony between the parties. The country should do away with its two-party political system and implement a one-party system of government, he said. 'Give it a shot to see if it works for the people,' he added. 'Even the news channels are different — everything's different,' said Rosimini, 70, a longtime township resident. 'The only time this country really comes together is when we have a tragedy. Other than that, we're always bickering.' - Philip DeVencentis With about eight hours until polls close, Jersey City Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Steve Fulop stopped by The Pickled Herring in Marlboro to chat with supporters and grab lunch. Fulop said that he was 'excited, nervous, stressed, anxious and all the other adjectives' about the day that is ultimately the culmination of his more than two year campaign to represent his party on ballots in this fall's gubernatorial election. 'I'm optimistic and hopeful but ultimately it's in the voters hands now,' he said. 'The response has been good.' Other candidates on the Democratic side also spent the morning doing some last-minute campaigning, including Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer, who greeted rail commuters at stations in Essex and Bergen Counties respectively. Republican Jack Ciattarelli spent the afternoon with supporters at a Raritan pizza parlor. John Bramnick worked the room at a YMCA fundraiser in Westfield on Monday night. Fulop said that he expects there will be a decision tonight or at least a clear indicator in the six way Democratic primary for the state's top elected office. As for that lunch order? Fulop said he was going with matzo ball soup and would defer to Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik for anything to go with it. -Katie Sobko In addition to the governor's primary races, there are also some contested local primary elections and some contested elections for nominations in the race for seats in the New Jersey Assembly, the lower house of the state legislature. Here's our complete guide to New Jersey's June 10 primary. There's information on who's running for each seat, how much money they've raised, and the candidates' positions on a number of key issues facing the state, including how they'd tackle climate change, how they'd preserve access to Medicaid, their stance on LGBTQ+ rights and abortion, and how they would fund education. This article originally appeared on NJ primary Election Day 2025: Live coverage, results
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat Mikie Sherrill wins NJ gubernatorial primary, setting up showdown with Trump-backed GOP winner
MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Rep. Mikie Sherrill won New Jersey's Democrat gubernatorial primary on Tuesday night. The Associated Press projects that Sherrill has won the primary, which tees up a competitive race against three-time gubernatorial candidate and former GOP state lawmaker Jack Ciattarelli to replace Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy, who is term-limited this year. Sherill swept a crowded field of Democrat candidates, including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney and fellow U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer. Democrat and Republican candidates often mentioned President Donald Trump's name on the New Jersey campaign trail as Democrats positioned themselves as the most anti-Trump and Republicans vied to be the most pro-Trump candidate. It was Ciattarelli who landed the Trump endorsement as Democrats worked to contrast the president's vision with their own. Trump Not On Ballot, But President Front And Center In New Jersey's Primary For Governor New Jersey is one of just two governor's races in 2025, along with Virginia. Both will be used by politicians and pundits to gauge how Americans are responding to Trump's second term ahead of the midterm elections next year. Read On The Fox News App Trump Front-and-center In Republican Primary For Governor As Early Voting Kicks Off As they campaigned for the coveted nomination, Democrat candidates walked a fine line between building on Murphy's legacy and promising to change the status quo in Trenton. Like Murphy, Democrat candidates have rejected Trump's executive orders, his crackdown on illegal immigration and the Department of Government Efficiency spending cuts. Acting as the last line of defense to a sweeping Republican agenda, Democrat governors have often rejected Trump's executive actions during his second term. By suing the Trump administration to unlock federal funds or refusing to comply with ICE deportations, Democrat governors, including many rumored to harbor 2028 presidential ambitions, are often leading the party's resistance to Trump. Trump once again took center stage on Tuesday as Sherrill and Gottheimer were peppered with questions by the press about the protests and riots unfolding in Los Angeles. When asked how she would handle the ongoing situation in Los Angeles differently from Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sherrill touted her military and law enforcement background and told Fox News Digital she would stand up "strongly in favor of keeping people here in the state safe," return safety to the streets and continue "speaking out against a president who is trying to create violence in the country." Sherrill is a Navy veteran and served in the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey as an outreach and re-entry coordinator, which she described as prosecuting federal cases and advising law enforcement on investigations. "Governor Newsom surged law enforcement in, and what Trump seems to be doing is trying to add fuel to the fire and really make the situation violent and bad," Sherrill told reporters after casting her ballot in Montclair on Tuesday morning. "That's completely unacceptable." Gottheimer said it was "outrageous" for Trump to send the National Guard to California without Newsom's request. "The fact that the president, for the first time since 1965, sent troops in from the National Guard without a request from the governor is outrageous. It's just more chaos that we're used to having in this administration. It's not how I would approach this," Gottheimer told Fox News Digital after voting in Tenafly. Democrat candidates threw their support behind Baraka last month after he was arrested for trespassing at an ICE facility in Newark. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called it a "beyond bizarre political stunt," but Baraka has maintained that he did nothing wrong. Last week, Baraka filed a lawsuit against Alina Habba, U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, and DHS Agent Ricky Patel "for false arrest, malicious prosecution, and defamation." Trump outperformed in the Garden State in 2024, according to Fox News Voter Analysis. While former Vice President Kamala Harris won New Jersey in 2024 as expected, Trump saw a nearly five-point improvement from his 2020 vote share, and Harris' support dropped by about five points. He gained across New Jersey, with his largest swings in the northeast corner of the state; Hudson and Passaic counties led the pack. Ciattarelli lost by a hair to Murphy in 2021 and framed his candidacy as a referendum on the Democrat policies that have driven New Jersey for the past eight years. Fox News' Remy Numa contributed to this report. Original article source: Democrat Mikie Sherrill wins NJ gubernatorial primary, setting up showdown with Trump-backed GOP winner
Fox News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Democrat Mikie Sherrill wins NJ gubernatorial primary, setting up showdown with Trump-backed GOP winner
MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Rep. Mikie Sherrill won New Jersey's Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday Associated Press projects that Sherrill has won the Democratic primary, teeing up a competitive race against three-time gubernatorial candidate and former GOP state lawmaker, Jack Ciattarelli, to replace Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy, who is term-limited this year. Sherill swept a crowded field of Democratic candidates, including Newark mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City mayor Steve Fulop, New Jersey Education Association president Sean Spiller, former New Jersey Senate president Steve Sweeney and fellow U.S. Rep. Josh and Republican candidates often evoked President Donald Trump's name on the New Jersey campaign trail, as Democrats positioned themselves as the most anti-Trump and Republicans vied to be the most pro-Trump candidate. It was Ciattarelli who landed the Trump endorsement as Democrats worked to contrast the president's vision with their own. TRUMP NOT ON BALLOT, BUT PRESIDENT FRONT AND CENTER IN NEW JERSEY'S PRIMARY FOR GOVERNORNew Jersey is one of just two governor's races in 2025, along with Virginia. Both will be used by politicians and pundits to gauge how Americans are responding to Trump's second term ahead of the midterm elections next year. TRUMP FRONT-AND-CENTER IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR AS EARLY VOTING KICKS OFFAs they campaigned for the coveted nomination, Democratic candidates walked a fine line between building on Murphy's legacy and promising to change the status quo in Trenton. Like Murphy, Democratic candidates have rejected Trump's executive orders, his crackdown on illegal immigration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts. Acting as the last line of defense to a sweeping Republican agenda, Democratic governors have often rejected Trump's executive actions during his second term. By suing the Trump administration to unlock federal funds or refusing to comply with ICE deportations, Democratic governors – including many rumored to harbor 2028 presidential ambitions – are often leading the party's resistance to Trump. Trump once again took center stage on Tuesday as Sherrill and Gottheimer were peppered with questions by the press about the protests and riots unfolding in Los Angeles. When asked how she would handle the ongoing situation in Los Angeles differently from Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sherrill touted her military and law enforcement background and told Fox News Digital she would stand up "strongly in favor of keeping people here in the state safe," return safety to the streets and continue "speaking out against a president who is trying to create violence in the country."Sherrill is a U.S. Navy veteran and served in the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey as an outreach and re-entry coordinator, which she described as prosecuting federal cases and advising law enforcement on investigations. "Governor Newsom surged law enforcement in, and what Trump seems to be doing is trying to add fuel to the fire and really make the situation violent and bad," Sherrill told reporters after casting her ballot in Montclair on Tuesday morning. "That's completely unacceptable."Gottheimer said it was "outrageous" for Trump to send the National Guard to California without Newsom's request. "The fact that the president, for the first time since 1965, sent troops in from the National Guard without a request from the governor is outrageous. It's just more chaos that we're used to having in this administration. It's not how I would approach this," Gottheimer told Fox News Digital after voting in Tenafly. Democratic candidates threw their support behind Baraka last month after he was arrested for trespassing at an ICE facility in Newark. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called it a "beyond bizarre political stunt," but Baraka has maintained that he did nothing wrong. Last week, Baraka filed a lawsuit against Alina Habba, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Agent Ricky Patel "for false arrest, malicious prosecution, and defamation." Trump outperformed in the Garden State in 2024, according to Fox News Voter Analysis. While Vice President Kamala Harris won New Jersey in 2024 as expected, Trump gained a nearly five-point improvement from his 2020 vote share and Harris' support dropped by about five points. He gained across New Jersey, with his largest swings in the northeast corner of the state. Hudson and Passaic counties lead the lost by a hair to Murphy in 2021 and framed his candidacy as a referendum on the Democratic policies that have driven New Jersey for the past eight years. Fox News' Remy Numa contributed to this report.
CBS News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
How Burlington County prepared for New Jersey primary election – new voting equipment, more locations
Tuesday is primary day in New Jersey, and many voters walked inside the Hainesport Municipal Building in Burlington County to cast their ballots Tuesday. For many, it was only a matter of minutes until they were back outside heading to their cars in the parking lot. The race with the most attention is the Democratic and Republican primary for governor. "It was just a piece of cake, just walk right in," Terry Horner said. "It was very quick, in and out," James Cosby said. "Now, it was easy peasy, they seemed to have solved a lot of the issues," Ted Costa said. This is a primary and not a presidential year or a general election, so turnout is expected to be much lower than the last election in November. READ MORE: Where do you vote for New Jersey's 2025 primary election? Find your polling location Costa said as he waited to cast his ballot for President Trump in November, he had to wait four hours before he was able to vote. Chopper 3 captured the crowds of voters stuck in line for hours in Burlington County seven months ago. From Hainesport to Medford and Evesham, voters complained about technical issues and not enough machines. CBS News Philadelphia New Jersey's attorney general also successfully sued to extend the deadline and add an extra hour of voting in Burlington County. "By the time we got in and we thought this isn't so bad, well you had to go all the way down to the back of the building then go all the way back, it was just crazy," Horner recalled. County leaders called the chaos "unacceptable" and vowed a "top to bottom review" to prevent a similar experience. CBS News Philadelphia followed up to see if any changes were made. According to a county spokesperson, several improvements have been implemented since November: Two new early voting locations were opened, bringing the county's total up to nine. Additional polling locations were added in some voting districts. New voting equipment, which includes ballot marking devices and tabulators, was purchased. Additional poll worker training was offered, and the superintendent of elections continues to offer voters tutorials on the voting equipment. More information technology workers have been deployed to polling locations to assist with tech issues and reduce response times. Cosby said the changes were obvious and very much needed. "Oh, I think it should have been addressed a long time ago," Cosby said, "but they seem to be doing a pretty good job here."
CBS News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
When do polls close in the N.J. governor primary elections?
New Jersey primary voters head to the polls New Jersey primary voters head to the polls New Jersey primary voters head to the polls It's Election Day in New Jersey, and voters are heading to the polls Tuesday to choose the Democratic and Republican nominees for governor in the 2025 primaries. The winner of each party's primary will advance to the November general election. New Jersey primary election poll hours Voters can cast their ballots at polling places across New Jersey starting at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10. Polls close at 8 p.m. Those in line before the polls close will be allowed to vote. CLICK HERE to find your polling place. How to vote in the New Jersey primary There are three ways to vote in the New Jersey primary, including by mail, in-person early voting or at your polling place on the day of the election. If you are a registered Democrat or Republican, you may vote only in your party's primary. Unaffiliated voters must declare which party's primary they are going to vote in. Remember to check the deadlines if you plan to vote by mail-in ballot. The early voting window closed on June 8. Does New Jersey require voter ID? For the most part, New Jersey does not require people to present ID when voting. Voters will be asked to show ID at their polling place if they did not present it when registering. In certain situations, voters will be given a provisional ballot. Who is running for New Jersey governor? There are six Democrats and five Republicans running for governor of New Jersey. The Democratic primary candidates are Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, and former State Senate President Steve Sweeney. The Republican primary candidates are Burlington County contractor and business owner Justin Barbera, State Sen. Jon Bramnick, former State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, lawyer and former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, and former radio host Bill Spadea. Gov. Phil Murphy, who narrowly defeated Ciattarelli in the 2021 general election, is term-limited and cannot run for reelection. CLICK HERE to watch interviews with the candidates.
