Anticipated Outcomes from Upcoming New Jersey Primary Elections: Insights and Predictions
ELECTION SHOWDOWN IN JERSEY:Washington (AP) - A bustling dozen candidates collide in New Jersey on June 13, competing for the opportunity to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. Alongside, the electorate will choose nominees for the state General Assembly.
New Jersey, along with Virginia, is among the two states hosting a gubernatorial race this year. Traditionally, the political landscape of these contests is often overshadowed by federal politics, with the president's party often suffering losses. Despite a significant Democratic lead in New Jersey's federal offices and state legislature, the governor's office has been a continuous seesaw between Democratic and Republican control for most of the last century. The last time a party held power for more than two consecutive terms was in 1961.
The Democratic contest for the governorship is a heated one, featuring an extensive lineup of notable current and former officeholders: U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, New Jersey Education Association president and former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney.
Gottheimer boasts a slight edge in fundraising, with approximately $9.1 million in contributions, followed by Sherrill and Fulop, each having raised around $8.9 million for their campaigns.
Immigration has surfaced as a significant issue in the campaign. In May, New Jersey's top federal prosecutor dropped a trespassing case against Baraka, who was previously arrested in an immigration protest turned violent.
In the Republican primary, former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli re-emerges, aiming for the state's highest office for the third time. He demonstrated a strong performance in the 2021 Republican nomination against Murphy, narrowly missing defeating the incumbent Democratic governor. Ciattarelli also attempted the nomination in 2017 but lost the bid to then-Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.
Other GOP aspirants seeking the nomination on Tuesday encompass state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, talk radio host Bill Spadea, and general contractor Justin Barbera.
President Donald Trump has played an instrumental role in the primary, as he has in other GOP contests across the country in recent years. In May, he extended his endorsement to Ciattarelli and campaigned for him during a virtual rally on the second of June, even after the candidate criticized Trump's presidency in 2015. Bramnick, however, remains the only current Trump critic in this year's Republican primary field.
Essex County, known for its heavily Democratic population, dominated the turnout during the last competitive Democratic primary for governor in 2017. In contrast, it did not rank among the top 15 counties in the last competitive Republican primary in 2021, with Ciattarelli garnering a majority of the vote in all 21 counties.
A total of 80 seats in the state General Assembly are up for election this year, with only 25 districts facing contested races. In these primaries, voters may choose up to two candidates per district, and each race will have two winners. Democrats maintain a lopsided majority in the chamber.
Though the Senate seats won't be up for election until 2027, some voters in Bergen and Passaic counties in northern New Jersey will select nominees for a special state Senate election in District 35, despite neither the Democratic nor Republican primary being contested. Democrats also retain a decisive majority in the state Senate.
The Associated Press does not project wins and will only declare a winner when it's impossible for trailing candidates to close the gap. Ongoing coverage of any significant developments in the race will continue even if there's no declared winner, ensuring transparency on the election's status.
Recounts in New Jersey are rare, with candidates and voters required to request and pay for them. The AP may declare a winner in cases where a recount is possible but the current lead is too substantial for it to change the election's outcome.
Primaries will be held in New Jersey on Tuesday, June 13. Polls will close at 8 p.m. ET. The AP will report vote results and proclaim winners for the primaries for governor, state General Assembly, and the uncontested special primaries in state Senate District 35.
Voting is limited to registered party members. Independent or unaffiliated voters may participate in either primary, but doing so will enroll them in that party. As of Sunday, there were approximately 6.6 million registered voters in New Jersey, with 37% being Democrats and 25% Republicans, making up the largest groups. Approximately 2.4 million voters were not affiliated with any party.
During the 2021 primaries for governor, overall turnout was around 6% of registered voters in the Democratic primary and about 5% in the Republican primary. Nearly 383,000 ballots were cast in the Democratic primary and about 339,000 in the Republican primary.
Approximately 55% of the Democratic primary vote and 29% of the Republican primary vote had been cast before Election Day in the state primary of 2023. As of Thursday morning, more than 248,000 Democratic primary ballots and more than 91,000 Republican primary ballots had already been cast before the primary. Vote tabulation usually takes several hours after the polls close.
Stay updated with the AP's coverage of the election by visiting https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2025/.
Other notable stories making headlines this week:- Trump unveils comprehensive travel ban and restrictions on 19 countries set to take effect on Monday- ICE officers stranded in Djibouti shipping container with deported migrants- National Sheriffs' Association chief slams feds' 'sanctuary' list- Tips for taking charge of your bone health- Oregon's best swimming beach is tucked away from the ocean
- In addition to the gubernatorial race, New Jersey voters will also be choosing nominees for the state General Assembly, a significant opportunity in the realm of politics.
- Education, immigration, and crime-and-justice have emerged as key issues in the heated Democratic primary for New Jersey's governorship.
- Seattle, in contrast, faces a different set of challenges, including an increase in car-accidents and fires, with policy-and-legislation and general-news outlets providing ongoing coverage.
- In war-and-conflicts, ICE officers found themselves stranded in a shipping container with deported migrants in Djibouti, a stark reminder of the complexities in migration.
- Shifting focus to crime-and-justice, the National Sheriffs' Association chief voiced criticism against the federal government's 'sanctuary' list.
- For those concerned about bone health, there are tips available to help take charge, while those seeking a serene escape might consider Oregon's best swimming beach, hidden away from the ocean.
