As New Jersey prepares for one of its most important election years in decades, both local and statewide races are drawing strong attention. At the center of the local spotlight is Jersey City Council President Joyce Watterman, who has officially entered the race for mayor. Her campaign launch comes at a time when the federal government has sued Jersey City over its sanctuary city policies.
At the state level, the first gubernatorial primary since Governor Phil Murphy reached his term limit features 11 candidates—six Democrats and five Republicans—competing to replace him. All 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly are also up for election, with over 200 candidates running. The primary will be held on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
- Joyce Watterman is running for Jersey City mayor while opposing a DOJ lawsuit challenging the city’s sanctuary city policies.
- New Jersey’s 2025 primary includes 11 major candidates for governor—six Democrats and five Republicans—as Governor Phil Murphy is term-limited.
- For the first time, New Jersey’s primary will use ballots without the “county line,” affecting over 200 legislative races and increasing competition.
Joyce Watterman Responds to Federal Lawsuit and Enters Mayoral Race
Joyce Watterman, who currently serves as Jersey City Council President, confirmed that she is running for mayor in the 2025 election. She made the announcement in a public letter, which also addressed a federal lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against Jersey City for maintaining sanctuary city policies. These policies limit how much local law enforcement can work with federal immigration authorities, especially when it comes to undocumented residents.
According to the DOJ, Jersey City’s policies interfere with federal immigration enforcement. However, Watterman argues that these policies are meant to protect immigrant families and build trust between the community and local police. She believes the lawsuit threatens that trust.
In the same week the lawsuit was filed, the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Republicans, passed a federal budget that includes major cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. Watterman said these cuts, combined with the DOJ lawsuit, would affect many people in Jersey City because many residents rely on these healthcare programs for medicine and doctor visits. She explained that if the cuts happen, people could be forced to choose between food and medical care.
In her campaign, Watterman said she would stand against federal overreach. She also promised to protect access to healthcare and keep Jersey City welcoming to all people. Her campaign focuses on protecting local values, especially during a time when federal policies may affect everyday life in the city.
New Jersey’s 2025 Primary for Governor Is One of the Most Crowded in History
While Jersey City’s mayoral race is getting attention, the state of New Jersey is preparing for a primary election that will decide who will run to become the next governor. Current Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, cannot run again because New Jersey law limits governors to two terms. As a result, six Democrats and five Republicans are competing to replace him in the June 10 primary.
The six Democratic candidates are:
- Ras Baraka, age 54, is the mayor of Newark. He is running on a progressive platform. He was recently detained by ICE agents during a protest outside a detention center in Newark. Charges against him were dropped.
- Steven Fulop, age 48, is the mayor of Jersey City. He is running a campaign against political insiders. He is a former U.S. Marine and worked on Wall Street before entering politics.
- Josh Gottheimer, age 50, is a U.S. Representative from Bergen County. He is a former speechwriter for President Bill Clinton. He released a campaign ad that shows an AI version of himself boxing Donald Trump.
- Mikie Sherrill, age 53, is a U.S. Representative from Essex County. She is a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor. She is currently the only woman in the race and is leading in most Democratic polls.
- Sean Spiller, age 50, is president of the New Jersey Education Association and the former mayor of Montclair. His campaign is supported by $35 million from the NJEA, although he did not qualify for the primary debate stage because his campaign did not raise enough money.
- Steve Sweeney, age 65, is the former President of the New Jersey Senate. He served in the state legislature for over 20 years but lost his seat in 2021 to a Republican truck driver.
On the Republican side, five candidates are running:
- Jack Ciattarelli, age 63, is a former State Assemblyman. He ran for governor in 2021 and lost to Murphy by about 3 points. This year, he received the endorsement of Donald Trump.
- Bill Spadea, age 56, is a former radio host and Marine. He is a strong conservative voice and is running as a pro-Trump candidate. He is critical of vaccines and LGBTQ-inclusive school policies.
- Jon Bramnick, age 72, is a State Senator. He has served in the state legislature for 22 years and is known as a centrist. He is also a practicing attorney and part-time stand-up comedian.
- Mario Kranjac, age 59, is the former mayor of Englewood Cliffs. He describes himself as a Trump-style Republican and says he wants to govern the state in that image.
- Justin Barbera, age 44, is a contractor from South Jersey. He did not raise much money but submitted over 2,500 petition signatures to get on the ballot. He also ran for Congress previously.
This year’s election is also different because of a court ruling that removed the “county line” from the ballot. In the past, party-backed candidates appeared in a preferred spot on the ballot. Without the county line, all candidates are listed in a random order, and it could make the results less predictable and give lesser-known candidates a better chance.
Over 200 Candidates Compete for All 80 State Assembly Seats
In addition to the governor’s race, every seat in the New Jersey General Assembly is on the ballot. The General Assembly is the lower house of the state Legislature. A total of 209 candidates are running in the June 10 primary: 123 Democrats and 86 Republicans. This is the highest number of Assembly candidates in a primary since 1977.
One local race that has gained attention is in the 32nd Legislative District, which covers parts of Hoboken and Jersey City. On May 21, 2025, six Democratic candidates for the Assembly took part in a debate hosted by the Hoboken and Jersey City Democratic Committees. Steve Lenox, publisher of TAPinto Hoboken and TAPinto Jersey City, moderated the debate. The topics discussed included immigration, transportation, housing, education, healthcare, and the state budget.
The candidates in the debate were:
- Jennie Pu, Director of the Hoboken Public Library
- Ravi Bhalla, Mayor of Hoboken
- Yousef Saleh, Jersey City Councilmember for Ward D
- Jessica Ramirez, current Assemblywoman and immigration attorney
- Katie Brennan, housing advocate and former chief of staff at the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency
- Crystal Fonseca, Director of Jersey City’s Division of Buildings and Street Maintenance
Each candidate shared specific experiences and ideas related to state policies and local needs. The debate was organized to help voters learn more about the candidates before the June primary.
How to Vote in New Jersey’s June 10, 2025 Primary
The primary election will take place on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voters who are in line by 8:00 p.m. will still be allowed to vote.
Early in-person voting is available from June 3 to June 8. Voting hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by 8:00 p.m. on June 10 and received by your county’s Board of Elections by June 16. Voters may also use secure drop boxes or deliver their ballots directly to the county elections office before 8:00 p.m. on June 10.
Unaffiliated voters—those not registered with any political party—are allowed to vote in the primary. They must declare a party when voting at the polls. After doing so, they are registered with that party unless they submit a new registration to become unaffiliated again.
The deadline to register to vote was May 20, 2025. The deadline to change party affiliation before the primary was April 16, 2025.
Mail-in ballot applications sent by mail were due June 3, and in-person applications are accepted until 3:00 p.m. on June 9. Military and overseas voters have until June 6 to apply for ballots electronically.
Voters with questions can call the New Jersey Division of Elections at 877-NJVOTER (877-658-6837). To report suspected fraud or corruption, contact the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability at 844-OPIA-TIPS. Rewards of up to $25,000 may be given for information leading to a conviction.
