Democrat Mikie Sherrill Wins New Jersey Governorship, Defeats Trump-Backed Ciattarelli

Democrat Mikie Sherrill has emerged victorious in the New Jersey gubernatorial election, defeating Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.

Sherrill’s win marks a significant boost for the Democratic Party, denying Republicans one of their best chances for a major upset in this election cycle.

A former Navy pilot and member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Sherrill campaigned largely on economic issues, contrasting her policy positions with Trump’s economic record. Her victory came just hours after her congressional roommate, Representative Abigail Spanberger, won the governorship of Virginia, further energizing Democrats nationwide.

Sherrill, who first entered Congress in 2018 to help check Trump’s influence during his first term, appeared to resonate with voters once again. Exit polls showed her winning the support of a majority of independents, a key demographic expected to shape the outcome of next year’s midterm elections.

Trump had thrown his weight behind Ciattarelli in the final stretch of the campaign, posting on Truth Social and urging supporters to turn out before polls closed at 8 p.m. “You need to go out and vote for Jack Ciattarelli, who’s a great guy, a friend of mine… who wants to really save New Jersey, make it great again,” Trump said during a tele-rally Monday night.

Despite Trump’s endorsement and late push, polls consistently showed Ciattarelli trailing Sherrill. His challenge was compounded by the political dynamics of New Jersey, a traditionally blue-leaning state that has not elected a Republican governor while a GOP president was in office in recent history.

In his previous attempt in 2021, Ciattarelli also fell short against Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, even when President Joe Biden, a Democrat, occupied the White House.

With this latest victory, Sherrill cements her position as one of the Democratic Party’s rising stars — and her triumph signals a continued shift in voter sentiment ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Opinion Nigeria News