Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) defeated five fellow Democrats during Tuesday night’s primary to secure the party’s nomination as she seeks to become the next New Jersey governor. 

The Associated Press called the race for Sherrill at 8:39 p.m. Eastern time. Sherrill led with 35% of the votes with about a third of the votes counted, with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) following in second and third place, respectively.

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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney rounded out the top five finishers. Gottheimer received 13.3% when the race was called for Sherrill, a blow to the congressman who spent the most on ads supporting him.

Sherrill, who has represented New Jersey’s 11th District since 2018, was the Democratic front-runner heading into the primary, receiving more than twice the support of her opponents in a recent poll.

She will face Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who received 67.5% of the vote at the time the Associated Press called the GOP primary. Ciattarelli defeated four other candidates for the Republican nomination. His win was expected given President Donald Trump’s endorsement, though it could backfire in a state where registered Republicans are vastly outnumbered by Democrats. 

Ciattarelli and Sherrill will now head to a general election matchup on Nov. 4 to determine who will replace term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ). Trump came within 5% of winning the traditionally blue state last year, and Republicans see an opportunity to flip the state in November.

Policies from Trump’s White House and the GOP-led Congress have colored the two gubernatorial primaries of the 2025 off-year cycle, with the other upcoming in Virginia. The two states’ general elections are considered a temperature gauge for how Republicans are faring and offer a preview of the 2026 congressional midterm elections.

Democrats have performed well in the handful of 2025 state races, flipping Republican seats and districts in places such as Omaha, Wisconsin, New York, and Pennsylvania.

The gubernatorial contest had some twists.

Baraka was charged with trespassing after he, along with some House Democrats, protested outside the Newark Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that was holding arrested illegal immigrants. The charges have since been dropped.

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Fulop was the only Democratic candidate to run with a slate of allied candidates who are running for the state Assembly.

Because of New Jersey rules, Sherrill will only have to give up her House seat if she loses. With Gottheimer’s loss in the primary, he will return to Congress and remain the congressman of the 5th District.