The Candidates
★PLEASE "CLICK" CANDIDATE'S NAME FOR MORE INFO★
★"CLICK" THEIR PHOTO FOR THEIR OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN SITE★
Mikie Sherrill
Representing New Jersey District 11, Mikie Sherrill is a former navy pilot and former prosecutor. She focuses on affordable housing, reproductive rights, and cost of living.
When asked her first priority if elected, she said:
"We need to tackle the issues that are keeping New Jerseyans up at night. And for so many people, that is the cost of living. We can lower costs and make sure people can live here in the Garden State by building more housing."
Josh Gottheimer
Representing New Jersey's fifth district, Gottheimer has a simple approach- lower taxes to lower costs.
When asked his first priority if elected, he said:
"I’m running as the “Lower Taxes, Lower Costs Governor.” My No. 1 priority is to bring down taxes and make life more affordable. That means getting property and income taxes down, cutting bureaucracy, and making sure local businesses can afford to stay, grow and create more jobs in Jersey."
Steve Fulop
A U.S. marine and current mayor of Jersey city, Steven Fulop has created proposals regarding public safety, transportation and infrastructure, housing, health and human services, education, government reform, and sustainability.
When asked his first priority if elected, he said:
"My first priority is to deliver real relief for working families by cutting taxes for the majority of households across this state and addressing the housing crisis. In concert with lowering taxes, we'll kick-start the construction of housing, and dismantle antiquated zoning laws, so people can afford to live and raise their families in dignity in New Jersey."
Ras Baraka
The mayor of Newark is letting "equity lead the way." His proposed policies on the economy, housing, and healthcare centralize around reformed tax brackets and taxing inherited wealth and luxury goods.
When asked his first priority if elected, he said:
"My first priority is to deliver real relief for working families by cutting taxes for the majority of households across this state and addressing the housing crisis. In concert with lowering taxes, we'll kick-start the construction of housing, and dismantle antiquated zoning laws, so people can afford to live and raise their families in dignity in New Jersey."
Steve Sweeney
Former Senate President and father to a daughter with down syndrome, Steve focuses his attention on education, healthcare, and disability policies.
When asked his first priority if elected, he said:
"Fixing the budget process. I would be doing multiyear budgeting and consensus forecasting with the Legislature, which requires the governor to give up some power so that we can get accurate budget forecasts. And housing, because there’s so many housing problems. We have a shortage for the elderly and disabled people."
Sean Spiller
A former teacher, former mayor of Montclair, Sean Spiller advocates fpr education, affordable healthcare and housing, LGBTQIA+ rights, and gun violence prevention.
When asked his first priority if elected, he said:
"Every single day I talk with teachers, support professionals, parents and small-business owners who are struggling just to keep their heads above water. From child care to housing to health care to the cost of groceries, New Jersey is facing an affordability crisis. We have to make this state a place where raising a family or starting a business is within reach for everyone — not just the wealthy."
Bill Spadea
An entrepreneur, a media personality, and former marine, Bill hosts a popular radio show, NJ101.5 FM, where he listens to the pleas of New Jersey residents ready for change. He is known for calling out liberals and conservatives alike in his efforts to get to the roots of New Jersey's needs.
When asked his first priority if elected, he said:
"We must immediately end the illegal immigration crisis in New Jersey. Studies have pegged the cost to taxpayers at more than $7 billion annually. We cannot make our state affordable until we stop giving handouts to lawbreakers."
Jack Ciattarelli
Jack was born and raised in New Jersey, and this is his third run for Governor. He ran against Governor Murphy in 2021, losing by only 3 points. When asked his first priority if elected, he said:
"We have an affordability crisis driven by rising taxes, tolls, and fees across the board. I will cap property taxes to 1% of a home's assessed value, reform the school funding formula, audit state spending to find significant cuts, repeal the sanctuary state directive that made us a magnet for illegal immigrants, and push for term limits on state legislators to bring in fresh ideas and new blood."
Jon Bramnick
A lawyer, professor, and senator of the 21st district, Jon Bramnick intends to make a more affordable New jersey via tax cuts, keep communities safe, create sustainable affordable energy policies, stop overdevelopment, provide quality education, empower patients and doctors, and create a smaller, more efficient government.
When asked his first priority if elected, he said:
"If elected, my first priority is convening a government efficiency panel made up of private residents and business leaders to examine every facet of our state government and find waste, overregulation and areas for improvement. This will make our state government smaller, more responsive, and provide savings and sustainable tax cuts that do not require an application for the more than 9 million residents of our state."
Ed Durr
Truck driver, Ed Durr, served in the Senate representing the 3rd district from 2022-2024. Ed wants to lower property taxes, downsize government, reform use of tax dollars, repair roads, enact transparency in government, and reduce taxes.