Democrat Mikie Sherrill won New Jersey’s 2025 governor’s race on Nov. 4, securing a double-digit lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli as votes were counted statewide. According to NJ Spotlight News, the Associated Press called the race shortly after 9 p.m., making Sherrill the state’s second woman elected governor.
Reported from New Jersey Globe, New Jersey rarely elects governors from the same political party three times in a row. The outlet further noted that the last time a party won three consecutive gubernatorial races was 1961, when Democrat Richard Hughes succeeded two-term Democrat Robert Meyner. The state has historically shifted parties every eight years, even when outgoing governors remained popular, most notably Republican Tom Kean in 1989 and Democrat Brendan Byrne in 1977. Sherrill’s win therefore marks a rare break in a decades-long pattern of partisan turnover in the state.
Education was the through-line of her campaign, and it’s shaping up to be the centerpiece of her transition. During her election-night remarks in Montclair, Sherrill told supporters that as the federal administration was “cutting SNAP [and] ripping away healthcare,” her administration would “fight for a different future for our children,” according to NJ Spotlight News.
Much of Sherrill’s platform centers on the state’s school funding formula. During the September gubernatorial debate, Sherrill said the formula “needs to reflect student need and real district costs,” according to Chalkbeat, while speaking on stage at Rider University. Chalkbeat also reported that Sherrill argued New Jersey must reassess how underfunded districts are identified and how their needs are measured across K–12 systems.
Sherrill also emphasized the importance of academic recovery and access to tutoring. According to Chalkbeat, she stated that her administration plans to support “high-impact tutoring,” which involves individualized, consistent academic support delivered multiple times per week. She told reporters the next state budget should “lock in” funding for districts using this model.
Mental health was another theme of her fall campaign. According to Chalkbeat, Sherrill said the state needs to “evaluate what programs are working and strengthen those that show measurable improvement,” while speaking to the press after an August event.
Students at Monmouth University reacted to Sherrill’s education focus with both optimism and concerns about affordability.
According to Abby Kosch, a sophomore majoring in communication, educator support is essential for students’ academic stability. “Students deserve to have the best education they can, and it is extremely important to support educators,” Kosch said while speaking to The Outlook. She added that increased mental health access “allowed me to continue to pursue my dreams” and said she hopes the administration expands support for first-generation students.
Funding changes at the K–12 level also drew attention from Monmouth student Olivia McGlone, a junior social work major, who said strong early-grade systems “give students a better foundation academically and emotionally,” while speaking to The Outlook. She also pointed to affordability pressures, saying “even small increases in tuition or housing costs can make a big difference in whether students can stay enrolled.”
Policy groups have begun framing what Sherrill’s agenda may look like in practice. Whiteboard Advisors released a breakdown of both candidates’ platforms ahead of Election Day, showing Sherrill has pledged to invest in mental health services, expand after-school programming, and maintain state support for affordable pre-K. The analysis also notes that her administration is expected to review district efficiency and consider shared services where they may reduce costs.
Sherrill is expected to announce her transition education team later this month. According to NJ Spotlight News, her office plans to release early budget priorities before she takes the oath of office in January.
