The primary election is over. The front-runners won. Now, the focus turns to November, as the candidates campaign to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy.
Primaries energize the party faithful. But with nominations secured, the nominees must broaden their appeal and show voters how they plan to address New Jersey’s many challenges.
Jack Ciattarelli is making his third run for governor, this time with the endorsement of a controversial president who has spent months upending the federal government. He will energize some voters and alienate others.
Ciattarelli must strike a balance – maintaining support from the Republican base while appealing to the state’s 37% of unaffiliated voters. No party can win statewide without them.
———-
Neither party can win without the
unaffiliated voters. The center will decide this race.
———-
On the Democratic side, Mikie Sherrill exceeded expectations in the primary, clinching victory within an hour of the polls’ closing. The party’s progressive wing was divided between the mayors of New Jersey’s two largest cities, but their combined turnout shows that Sherrill must engage this faction to drive participation in November.
Despite her measured denials, Sherrill is widely seen as a moderate and closely tied to the state’s political establishment and the current governor. To win, she must energize progressives, retain credibility with independents and benefit from Murphy’s legacy without being bound by it.
But personality politics only go so far. The real test is how each candidate plans to address the issues New Jerseyans face every day.
Affordability, housing, taxes, immigration, school funding, budget deficits, energy policy, health care and land use regulation are just a few. On top of these, voters are frustrated by local political machines that ignore public sentiment – until an election threatens their power. Too many safe districts have insulated incumbents from accountability.
Consider the recent spike in electricity rates. A flurry of legislative activity, hearings and statements followed – only after the public voiced outrage and election season loomed. Or the public backlash against changes to the Open Public Records Act, where 81% opposed the move, only to be ignored. Local bosses bet voters would forget by November.
So what should Ciattarelli and Sherrill focus on?
Affordability must top the list. New Jersey is overtaxed and suffers from a severe shortage of affordable housing – not just federally defined “affordable units,” but homes and apartments within reach for working families. Lowering taxes while increasing housing supply is a tough challenge, but not impossible if the political will exists.
Immigration demands clarity. The state’s 6% population growth in the 2020 census was largely driven by immigration. Candidates must define how state needs align – or diverge – from federal immigration policy.
Health care, especially costs, is another urgent issue. The collapse of the state’s health benefits plan for municipalities has left local governments scrambling. Taxpayers are bearing the cost as towns exit the system the state designed to avoid exactly this kind of fragmentation.
School funding remains an unresolved mess. New Jersey finally hit full formula funding, only to find the formula itself widely disliked. The state claims to provide property tax relief while allowing school districts to raise levies above state-imposed caps – often without voter approval. In many cases, state aid cuts are simply shifted to property tax bills.
Energy and climate policy will also be key. As Murphy’s term ends, his administration is advancing major coastal land use reforms and shifting $430 million from existing budgets to fund one-time electricity rebates. These decisions will outlive his term. Voters need to know where each candidate stands.
The issues are many, but the principle is simple: New Jersey needs specifics, not slogans.
Voters deserve to know how closely Sherrill will align with Murphy’s policies – and how much Ciattarelli will walk in lockstep with Trump. We need clear, practical plans for the challenges facing our state.
Generalities won’t cut it. The stakes are too high. It’s time to get specific.
Quotes From the Bible
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6:8
Relevance: A reminder that leadership must be rooted in justice, humility and compassion – qualities needed in addressing housing, taxes, health care and immigration policy.
