2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election
The 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election will take place on November 2, 2021. Incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, who was elected in 2017 with 56% of the vote, is eligible for re-election.[1] He has declared he would seek a second term, officially filing to run on October 1, 2020.[2]
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Elections in New Jersey |
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Democratic primary
Declared
Candidate | Experience | Running mate | Experience | Website | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Phil Murphy |
Incumbent governor (2018–present) | ![]() Sheila Oliver |
Incumbent Lieutenant Governor (2018–present) | (Website) | [2] |
Declined
- Stephen M. Sweeney, president of the New Jersey Senate (running for re-election)[3][4]
Endorsements
- Organizations
- New Jersey Education Association[5]
Republican primary
Candidates
On the Republican side, the first candidate to announce a gubernatorial run was former LD16 State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who did so on January 21, 2020.[6] Ciattarelli previously ran for governor in 2017, but lost the Republican primary to Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, and had informally stated after Murphy took office that he intended on running again.[7] The second Republican to announce their run for governor was perennial candidate Hirsh Singh, who narrowly lost the GOP primary election for U.S. Senate in 2020 to Rik Mehta. Singh also ran in the Republican primary for New Jersey's Second Congressional District in the House of Representatives in 2018, finishing second behind Seth Grossman, and in the Republican primary for governor in 2017, finishing third behind Guadagno and Ciattarelli.[8] A number of other Republican candidates are expected to enter the race.
Declared
Candidate | Experience | Website | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
![]() Jack Ciattarelli |
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 16th district (2011–2018) Candidate for governor in 2017 |
(Website) | [6] |
![]() Brian Levine |
Former Somerset County Freeholder (2014–2020) Candidate for governor in 2009 |
(No Website) | [9] |
![]() Joseph Rudy Rullo |
Businessman and Actor Perennial candidate |
(No Website) | |
![]() Hirsh Singh |
Businessman and Engineer Perennial candidate |
(Website) | [8] |
Withdrew
- Doug Steinhardt, Chairman of the Warren County Republican Committee and former Chairman of the New Jersey Republican Party (2017–2020)[10][11]
- Joseph Vicari, Ocean County Commissioner (1981–present)[12][13]
Potential
- Joe Piscopo, comedian, actor, and radio talk show host[14]
Declined
- Jon Bramnick, minority leader of the New Jersey State Assembly[15] (running for re-election)
- Joe Kyrillos, former state senator and assemblyman, nominee for U.S. Senate in 2012, and nominee for New Jersey's 6th congressional district in 1992[16]
- Holly Schepisi, state assemblywoman[17] (running for re-election)
- Rik Mehta, pharmaceutical executive, attorney, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020 (running for NJ-07)[18][19][20]
Endorsements
- State officials
- Diane Allen, former state senator (1998–2018)[21]
- Larry Chatzidakis, former state assemblyman (1997–2008)[21]
- Gerry Nardello, former interim state assemblywoman (2011–2012)[21]
- Ryan Peters, state assemblyman (2018–Present)[21]
- Gerard Scharfenberger, state assemblyman (2020–Present)[22]
- Jean Stanfield, state assemblywoman (2020–Present)[21]
- Mike Testa, state senator (2019–Present)
- Kristin Corrado, state senator (2017–Present), chair of the New Jersey Senate Republican Conference (2019–Present)[23]
- Local Officials
- Shaun Golden, Monmouth County sheriff and chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Party[24]
- Peter Murphy, Passaic County GOP Chairman[25]
- Matthew Moench, mayor of Bridgewater[26]
- Norman Schmelz, former mayor of Bergenfield[27]
- Groups and Organizations
- Bridgewater Township Council[28]
- Monmouth County GOP Leadership Team[29]
- Camden County Republican Party[30]
- Mahwah Township Council[31]
- Neptune City Republican Committee[32]
- Individuals
- Rik Mehta, pharmaceutical executive, attorney, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020
- Claire Gustafson, two-time former U.S. congressional candidate for New Jersey's 1st district[33]
General election
Predictions
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[34] | Solid D | February 1, 2021 |
References
- "New Jersey Governor race results 2017". CNN. WarnerMedia. November 7, 2017.
- Wildstein, David (October 1, 2020). "Murphy formally launches bid for 2nd term as governor, will run with Oliver". New Jersey Globe. Sea of Reeds Media. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- Biryukov, Nikita (June 27, 2019). "Sweeney not ready to back Murphy for re-election". New Jersey Globe. Sea of Reeds Media.
- Friedman, Matt (November 11, 2020). "A year ahead of Murphy's reelection, a détente among New Jersey's top Democrats". Politico. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- https://www.njspotlight.com/2020/10/nj-governors-election-2021-njea-teachers-union-early-endorsement-murphy/
- Racioppi, Dustin (January 21, 2020). "First GOP challenger announces run to unseat NJ Gov. Phil Murphy". NorthJersey.com. Gannett. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- Catalini, Michael (February 13, 2018). "Republican Says He Plans to Run for NJ Governor in 2021". US News & World Report. Associated Press.
- Wildstein, David (November 9, 2020). "Singh launches bid for Governor against Murphy". New Jersey Globe. Sea of Reeds Media.
- "Levine filing to run for governor". New Jersey Globe. January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- "Doug Steinhardt will run for governor against Phil Murphy". New Jersey Globe. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- "Steinhardt drops out of GOP gubernatorial race". New Jersey Globe. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- Lundy, Chris (January 18, 2021). "Ocean County Commissioner Screening For Governor Nod". Jersey Shore Online. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- Wildstein, David (January 23, 2021). "Vicari drops out of governor's race". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- "'Somebody's Gotta Save the State': Joe Piscopo Mulls Run for NJ Governor". Fox News Insider. News Corporation.
- "Bramnick Won't Run For Governor In '21". Insider NJ. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- Biryukov, Nikita (July 29, 2019). "Kyrillos not running for governor". New Jersey Globe. Sea of Reeds Media. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- Van Vliet, John (January 31, 2020). "Schepisi Will Not Run for Governor in 2021". InsiderNJ. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- "Rik Mehta Endorses Ciattarelli". Insider NJ. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- Rooney, Matt (November 20, 2020). "Election 2021: Will Mehta join the growing GOP race for governor?". SaveJersey.com. Themesaga. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
On Friday, 2020 GOP U.S. Senate nominee Rik Mehta issued an online 'thank you' note to supporters which appeared to stop just short of announcing a 2021 Republican primary bid. (...) Mehta’s essay focused more on New Jersey-specific issues than the national issues usually at issue in a federal race. He hadn't responded to a Friday afternoon inquiry as to whether he’s running for governor at the time of this post’s publication.
- "Mehta will challenge Malinowski for 7th district congressional race". New Jersey Globe. February 1, 2021.
- "Steinhardt, Ciattarelli drop dueling lists of 100+ new endorsements »". December 19, 2020.
- "Scharfenberger backs Ciattarelli". New Jersey Globe. January 18, 2021.
- "Passaic County Republican Leaders Endorse Ciattarelli for Governor". Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- "Shaun Golden endorses Ciattarelli for governor". New Jersey Globe. January 15, 2021.
- "Passaic County Republican Leaders Endorse Ciattarelli for Governor". Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- "Bridgewater Mayor, Council Endorse Ciattarelli For NJ Governor". Bridgewater, NJ Patch. January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- "Mahwah Republican Leaders Endorse Ciattarelli". Insider NJ. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- "Bridgewater Mayor, Council Endorse Ciattarelli For NJ Governor". Bridgewater, NJ Patch. January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- "Monmouth GOP Leadership Endorses Jack Ciattarelli for Governor Endorsements in Key GOP County Solidify Ciattarelli as Presumptive Nominee". Insider NJ. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- "Camden County Republicans Back Ciattarelli For NJ Governor". Haddonfield-Haddon Township, NJ Patch. January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- "Mahwah Republican Leaders Endorse Ciattarelli". Insider NJ. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- "Neptune City Chair Brian Thomas & Vice Chair Brian Farry Endorse Ciattarelli for Governor". Insider NJ. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- "Former Candidate Gustafson Backs Ciattarelli For Governor". www.msn.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- "2022 Governor Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
External links
Official campaign websites