New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill projected to Win Amid Trump and Economy Concerns
In a significant victory for the Democratic Party, former Navy pilot Mikie Sherrill is poised to win the New Jersey gubernatorial election against Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli. As of 9:30 p.m., with 63% of expected votes reported, Sherrill holds a substantial 14-point lead over her opponent.
Sherrill's victory marks a milestone for women in politics, as she is set to become New Jersey's first female governor. This historic achievement is a testament to the enduring power of women in shaping the country's future. The former Navy pilot's campaign focused on issues such as taxes and the economy, resonating with voters.
Sherrill's win comes at a time when the national conversation around President Donald Trump continues to dominate the headlines. The 2026 midterms have also become increasingly important, as Republican strategists look for signs that their party can flip the governor's mansion. However, on Tuesday, New Jersey voters chose a more pragmatic candidate in Sherrill.
Polls showed that taxes and the economy were the top concerns for New Jersey voters. In a preliminary exit poll analysis by ABC News, most voters said the state's economy was doing "not so good" or "poor," while property taxes and electricity costs were major issues. This suggests that Sherrill's campaign effectively resonated with voters.
Throughout the campaign, Ciattarelli struggled to connect with voters, as his attempt to distance himself from Trump's policies ultimately backfired. Meanwhile, Sherrill successfully tied her opponent to the president, capitalizing on voter concerns about Trump's leadership.
The controversy surrounding Sherrill's unredacted military records and Ciattarelli's past admission of cheating at Naval Academy graduation did not seem to significantly impact the outcome of the election. However, these issues could have played a more substantial role in a closer contest.
Former President Bill Clinton has already congratulated Sherrill on her victory, praising her as an "experience, get-the-job-done kind of leader." As she prepares to take office, Sherrill's leadership will be closely watched by voters and critics alike.
In a significant victory for the Democratic Party, former Navy pilot Mikie Sherrill is poised to win the New Jersey gubernatorial election against Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli. As of 9:30 p.m., with 63% of expected votes reported, Sherrill holds a substantial 14-point lead over her opponent.
Sherrill's victory marks a milestone for women in politics, as she is set to become New Jersey's first female governor. This historic achievement is a testament to the enduring power of women in shaping the country's future. The former Navy pilot's campaign focused on issues such as taxes and the economy, resonating with voters.
Sherrill's win comes at a time when the national conversation around President Donald Trump continues to dominate the headlines. The 2026 midterms have also become increasingly important, as Republican strategists look for signs that their party can flip the governor's mansion. However, on Tuesday, New Jersey voters chose a more pragmatic candidate in Sherrill.
Polls showed that taxes and the economy were the top concerns for New Jersey voters. In a preliminary exit poll analysis by ABC News, most voters said the state's economy was doing "not so good" or "poor," while property taxes and electricity costs were major issues. This suggests that Sherrill's campaign effectively resonated with voters.
Throughout the campaign, Ciattarelli struggled to connect with voters, as his attempt to distance himself from Trump's policies ultimately backfired. Meanwhile, Sherrill successfully tied her opponent to the president, capitalizing on voter concerns about Trump's leadership.
The controversy surrounding Sherrill's unredacted military records and Ciattarelli's past admission of cheating at Naval Academy graduation did not seem to significantly impact the outcome of the election. However, these issues could have played a more substantial role in a closer contest.
Former President Bill Clinton has already congratulated Sherrill on her victory, praising her as an "experience, get-the-job-done kind of leader." As she prepares to take office, Sherrill's leadership will be closely watched by voters and critics alike.
She's literally going to be the first female governor of New Jersey! That's, like, such a big deal for women in politics, you know? 
It's all about empowering people, especially women, to take on leadership roles. And I'm sure she'll do an amazing job tackling those economy and taxes issues that were so important to voters. I mean, who doesn't want to get ahead financially, right? 
Anyway, I'm just happy to see someone with experience like Sherrill taking the reins – it's all about getting things done! 
Mikie Sherrill is actually gonna be the first female governor of New Jersey!!! I mean idk how much more validation we needed but this is straight fire 
She totally killed it with her tax & economy message and didn't even flinch when Ciattarelli tried to diss her on Trump 
Meanwhile, ppl were all about her military background and how she's a total boss 
Now she gets to make history and we can't wait to see what she does 
! Women in politics are taking over 
, and it's about time 
. I'm loving the stats - 63% of expected votes reported, that's some serious momentum 
. And can we talk about the economy? Property taxes and electricity costs were major issues for voters 
. It's no surprise Sherrill focused on those areas 
.
. Not bad for a first-time candidate! 
and we couldn't be more excited! 
anyway whats w/ trump talkin bout that 2026 midterms tho dont think it matters if he loses or not 
btw has anyone seen that vid of the latest avengers movie? 
. So Mikie Sherrill won big time in NJ, no surprise there 
. But seriously, it's all about the economy and taxes, right? People were hella salty about their property tax situation 
. And let's be real, Ciattarelli just couldn't connect with voters 
. Trump is still a thing, but I guess NJers were like "no thanks" 
. Sherrill tied her opponent to Trump in the best way possible - voter concerns 
. Will be interesting to watch, that's for sure 
!
. i mean, it's dope to see a woman in politics, you know? she's all about the economy and taxes, which makes sense given how people are feeling about money right now 
. I think the economy was a major factor for her campaign, alot of people here in NJ are strugglin with high property taxes and electricity costs 
This is so cool that a woman is becoming the governor of New Jersey! She seems like such a strong candidate who understands the issues that matter most to people. I'm curious to see how she'll handle the economy and taxes now that she's in office... 
i mean, we need more women in power like that! and it's not just about her being a woman, it's about her experience as a navy pilot and her ability to connect with voters 
she's gonna do great as a governor 
lol i heard people were really worried about the economy 
but it looks like mikie sherrill knows what she's doing 
Guess we'll have to wait and see how she does as governor 
. One thing that did strike me is how some voters seemed to be more focused on the bigger picture, rather than getting caught up in all the drama surrounding the election 
Mikie Sherrill's win is a huge deal for the Democratic Party and women everywhere. She's breaking barriers left and right, and it's amazing to see her connect with voters on issues that matter most - like taxes and the economy. 
. Can't believe we're still stuck in this mess. And on a more local level, did you hear about the mass layoffs at a major tech firm in Silicon Valley? Like, what even is the point of having an economy if it's just going to leave people high and dry?