• Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, is projected to win the New Jersey governor's race, succeeding Phil Murphy.
• Sherrill's victory represents a significant win for Democrats in a state with a long history of fluctuating party control.
• The election showcased critical issues like affordability and energy costs influencing voter decisions.
• Sherrill's campaign criticized Republican Jack Ciattarelli's ties to Trump amid a close-fought battle.

Democrat Mikie Sherrill is projected to win the New Jersey governor's race, defeating Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli, who had the backing of former President Donald Trump. This victory positions Sherrill to succeed current Governor Phil Murphy, who is prohibited from seeking reelection due to state term limits. This election marks the second significant Democratic win in as many states holding off-year gubernatorial races, following Abigail Spanberger's win in Virginia, according to BBC, NPR, HuffPost, and AA.

The New Jersey gubernatorial race drew significant attention as a test of Trump's appeal during his second term. Sherrill, a four-term congresswoman and veteran, portrayed herself as a defender against rising costs of living and ineffective federal policies. Ciattarelli’s proposals included lowering taxes, which he emphasized during his campaign, but failed to resonate sufficiently with voters, according to BBC, NPR, HuffPost, and AA.

The election highlighted key issues regarding affordability, energy costs, and school funding, which both candidates tackled during the campaign. While Sherrill proposed freezing utility rates and enhancing tax incentives, Ciattarelli’s platform involved lowering property taxes. The race was marked by personal attacks, with accusations regarding past scandals overshadowing policy discussions, reports BBC, NPR, HuffPost, and AA.

Polling data indicated that Sherrill maintained a narrow lead leading up to the election, with early voting favoring Democrats. The threats to polling locations due to bomb threats, later deemed unfounded, added significant tension to the day but did not prevent voter turnout, according to BBC, NPR, HuffPost, and AA.