Inside the 2025 NJ General Election: Sherrill’s Win, Legislative Shifts and What’s Next for TZG

While Ciattarelli focused on kitchen-table economic issues and offered a departure from the current Murphy Administration agenda, Sherrill campaigned on how she would challenge and push back on the Trump Administration. At every turn, Sherrill tied Ciattarelli to the President, saying Ciattarelli wouldn’t stand up for New Jersey. But Sherrill also focused on the high cost of energy, promising to freeze utility rates and bring down the cost-of-living for New Jersey families. Sherrill’s strong performance in traditionally Republican counties like Morris, Burlington, and Gloucester defied expectations and erased any gains Trump made in 2024 in places like Passaic and Hudson.

What’s next: As Governor-elect Sherrill prepares to take office, attention will turn to the Gubernatorial Transition and how she plans to build out her Administration. The coming weeks will shape not only her administration’s early agenda but also the timing of a special election to determine who represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District in Washington.

Legislative Races

All 80 seats of the General Assembly were on the ballot this cycle. In the final stretch, Democrats worried that a few close districts might slip away; however, all incumbent Democrats won by wide margins and expanded their Assembly majority to at least 56–24. Democrats Andrew Macurdy and Vincent Kearney in District 21 unseated two long-serving Republican lawmakers. There were also surprisingly close races in Legislative Districts 2, 23, 25, 39, and 40. In District 2, Assemblyman Don Guardian (R-Atlantic) won reelection but the race for the second Assembly seat is too close to call but it’s appearing likely that a Democrat may win the other seat.

Following the election, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) was unanimously re-elected to an unprecedented fifth term for the 2026-2027 legislative session. Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Camden) was also re-elected to an eighth term and continues his record-breaking run, alongside Assembly Members Annette Quijano (D-Union) and Linda Carter (D-Union), who will return as Speaker Pro Tempore and Majority Conference Leader, respectively.

While the State Senate was not up for re-election, there was one special election worth noting in District 35 (covering parts of Bergen and Passaic Counties). Senator Benjie Wimberly (D) easily held onto the seat he assumed earlier this year after Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-9) transitioned to Washington.

Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Union) and Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) were both unanimously re-elected to their leadership positions.

Republicans re-elected Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco (R-Morris) and Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio (R-Warren).

The Takeaways

This year’s results reaffirm that affordability, property taxes, energy, and education continue to dominate the political conversation in New Jersey. Suburban districts swung Democratic, but the Democrats were able to chip away at the Republican edge in rural areas.

In Hudson County, former Senator Nick Sacco’s endorsement failed to provide a defense against the impressive GOTV operation of Senator Brian Stack (D-Hudson) and the Mayoral election in Jersey City, where Councilman James Solomon is leading former Governor Jim McGreevey in the mayoral race that will continue to test the electoral strength of progressives versus establishment Democrats. A run-off election will be on December 2, 2025.

Another surprising trend emerged in Parsippany, where Democrats flipped two council seats and nearly unseated Republican Mayor James Barberio, who holds just a slim lead. The results highlight a growing competitiveness for Democrats in Morris County’s historically Republican suburbs, which Sherrill had won.

Looking ahead, there may be debate about whether the resounding results for legislative Democrats mean they can take on more progressive issues or stay the course by emphasizing affordability and kitchen-table issues that resonated with voters. This prelude will be the basis for the next legislative session, where the Assembly Democrats, with their expanded Caucus, may face the pull between a handful of new independent progressive members and veteran lawmakers. Those questions will shape both parties’ strategies heading into 2026-2027 Legislative Session and may serve as tea leaves ahead of the Congressional midterms.

What’s Next For TZG

With Election Day behind us, attention now shifts to the lame duck session, the brief but busy period between Election Day and the start of a new legislative term. It’s often when unfinished bills resurface, last-minute deals take shape and outgoing lawmakers and Governor Murphy make their final mark before handing things over to the next administration and a new legislature.

Some key issues on the table include whether to move forward on proposed rules concerning independent contractors, which face a great deal of public opposition, the ongoing debate over energy affordability and the state’s clean energy targets, as well as legislation to ban cellphones in schools. Also looming is a great deal of fiscal uncertainty, augmented by federal policy changes and structural gaps within the State Health Benefits Program, and increased demands in the Child Care Assistance Program. These issues and several other critical policy matters may move quickly.

The Senate and Assembly are slated to meet most Mondays and Thursdays through December, which means things will move fast. At The Zita Group, we’ll be keeping a close watch over every hearing, bill, and policy discussion, keeping clients informed and ready to act on what’s next.

For more election insights and legislative updates, book a call with our team.

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.