As we head into the summer, we’re looking ahead to this fall’s gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia. On Tuesday, June 10, New Jersey held its gubernatorial primary elections. Republican Jack Ciattarelli won his party’s nomination with 68% of the vote, having secured an endorsement from President Trump. The Democratic primary, however, was more competitive, with the six candidates highlighting the competition between progressives and moderates within the Democratic party. The slight favorite, Mikie Sherrill, won the nomination with 34% of the vote. Sherrill previously flipped a traditionally-Republican district in her 2018 U.S. House of Representatives election. She competed in the primary with fellow moderates, Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Steve Sweeney. Ras Baraka, Steve Spiller, and Steve Fulop represented the progressives on the ticket, aiming to break from the middle lane of the party. New Jersey went to the Democrats in the 2024 presidential election, by a margin of 5.91%, a significant rightward shift from 2020. The election will be held Nov. 4, 2025, along with the Virginia gubernatorial election. Virginia will also be closely-watched as the state was also won by Democrats by a 5.78% margin in 2024. Virginia will decide between former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger and current Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. These are the only two states with governors’ seats up for election this year.

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