Dem
47
GOP
53
In odd-numbered years, political junkies are in the wilderness. There is not a lot on the menu then, other than a race for mayor here, a couple of local elections there. Fortunately, in years that match 4n +1, for some integer n, the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial elections provide some relief. Virginia is always interesting because the Commonwealth bans governors from a second consecutive term and both parties regularly win the governor's mansion in Richmond. New Jersey, a deep-blue state, is usually a snoozer.
Not this year. So far, six Democrats and four Republicans are already in the race. Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, said: "It's going to be an epic battle for the ages." The Democrats are Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller and former state Sen. Steve Sweeney. On the Republican side, the contenders are State Sen. Jon Bramnick, former state Sen. Ed Durr, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, and conservative radio host Bill Spadea.
Sherrill and Gottheimer are the best known of the bunch statewide. New Jersey is a blue state, but Donald Trump did better in New Jersey than in previous years, getting 46% of the vote (vs. 41% in 2020). The last time a Republican was elected governor of New Jersey was in 2014, when Chris Christie was reelected, but given the rightward movement of the whole country on Nov. 5, the general election could be competitive. (V)