What You Need to Know About the 2025 NJ General Election by Oct 14

New Jersey is heading into one of its most consequential elections in years, with the Governor’s Office and all 80 Assembly seats on the line. The campaigns are already ramping up with ads, fundraising, and voter outreach, while affordability, school funding, public safety and utility costs dominating the conversation. For businesses, communities, and advocates alike, the choices voters make this November will help shape the state’s policy direction for years to come.

At The Zita Group, we’re tracking these developments closely: analyzing the strategies, issues driving debate and the implications for clients across the Garden State. Here’s what stands out so far.

The 2025 Gubernatorial Race

The governor’s race is the focal point of this cycle. Election Day is still seven weeks away, and a large share of undecided voters and turnout difficult to predict, the contest remains highly competitive.

• Mikie Sherrill (D-11), a Navy helicopter pilot and former federal prosecutor, is running on a platform aimed at making New Jersey more affordable. Her plan targets rising costs in housing, healthcare, energy and everyday expenses, with proposals for smarter tax policy and stronger family support. Read Sherrill’s Affordability Agenda.
• Jack Ciattarelli (R), a former state assemblyman and previous gubernatorial candidate, is focused on capping property taxes, reducing crime, limiting state spending, making the state more business friendly, and reducing energy costs through more instate energy production from both clean and fossil fuel sources. Read Ciattarelli’s plan.

Senate Race

The 35th District, which is heavily Democratic, there is only a State Senate race this year. Democrat Benjie Wimberly, appointed to fill Nellie Pou’s term after she was elected to Congress, is running against Republican Frank Filippelli of Paterson.

Assembly Races

All 80 Assembly seats are up for grabs in New Jersey, with Democrats’ currently maintaining a long-standing majority over the GOP in the lower house since 2002. Democrats currently hold 52 seats to Republicans’ 28, with voter registration trends favoring Democrats in most districts.

A few districts we are watching:

• Atlantic County’s 2nd District: Republicans have held every seat since 2021, but Democrats continue to lead in voter registration.
• Salem/Cumberland/Gloucester’s 3rd District: Currently a Democratic stronghold, but with Trump winning Gloucester County in 2024, Republican momentum may be rising.
• Atlantic/Burlington’s 8th and Ocean’s 30th Districts: Both enter the election with split representation and the chance to shift control. In the 8th, Democrats are counting on their registration edge to win both seats. In the 30th, Republicans hold a two-to-one candidate advantage on the ballot, with Lakewood’s Orthodox Jewish community being a key voting block which may determine the outcome of the race.
• Monmouth’s 11th District: With so many unaffiliated voters, the race between Democrats Donlon and Peterpaul and Republicans Ford and Wardell is competitive.

Key Issues

The final weeks of the campaign will hinge not only on who delivers the sharpest message but also on which issues resonate most with voters.

• Affordability and Taxes: New Jersey’s property taxes remain high and combined with climbing housing costs, higher utility bills, and toll hikes, affordability pressures are squeezing families across the state.
• School Funding: Strained by uneven aid and property-tax hikes, school districts face added pressure from debates over support for marginalized students, federal policy clashes and unresolved segregation lawsuits.
• Social Safety Net Programs: Federal cuts under the Trump administration could impact Medicaid, SNAP, and education funding, leaving the state to decide whether and how to fill the gap.
• Mental Health and Public Safety: With youth anxiety rising and demand for crisis response and violence prevention growing, funding decisions will fall to the next governor.
• Infrastructure and Transit: NJ Transit faces ongoing financial strain, with fare hikes, aging infrastructure and uncertain funding as a temporary corporate “transit fee” is set to expire in 2028.

Voting Deadline and Why Your Vote Matters

This year, with the Governor’s Office and all 80 Assembly seats on the ballot, every vote counts. From property taxes to public safety, the choices made at the polls will determine how the state tackles its biggest challenges and invests in its people.

Important dates to know:

• Voter Registration Deadline: October 14, 2025
• Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline: October 28, 2025
• Early Voting Period: October 25 – November 2, 2025
• Election Day: November 4, 2025

The period between Election Day and the swearing-in of a new Governor, known as the “lame duck” session, is one of the most unpredictable and impactful phases in Trenton. Outgoing lawmakers and officials, no longer bound by the pressure of reelection, often push through major legislation that might otherwise stall. Depending on the election outcome, this could mean a rush to cement key initiatives before a new administration takes office, or a deliberate pause to leave difficult decisions for the next Governor. For businesses, communities, and advocates, this window is critical.

At TZG, we guide clients through this critical period by anticipating shifts, protecting interests, and finding opportunities to shape the conversation. We are currently connecting our clients with campaign policy teams when appropriate, providing expertise that helps shape smarter policy for the future of the state.

If you have questions or concerns about how this election could affect your business book a call: https://www.thezitagroupnj.com/book-a-consultation/

About The Zita Group

The Zita Group is a woman-owned government and public affairs firm, both founded and led by Patrizia “Trish” Zita. Our bipartisan, experienced team of strategic consultants is widely respected by elected, appointed and government officials of both parties across New Jersey’s political landscape. We provide our clients unique insights into the decision-making process at the highest levels. We bring to bear credible working relationships with executive branch officials, legislators, and staff. Our team’s effectiveness has been demonstrated again and again by the results we achieve for our clients.