2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election explained

See also: 2021 United States gubernatorial elections.

Election Name:2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election
Country:New Jersey
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2017 New Jersey gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2017
Next Election:2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election
Next Year:2025
Time Zone:EST[1]
Election Date:November 2, 2021
Turnout:40.5%[2] (2.0%)
Image1:File:Phil Murphy for Governor (34592772625) (1).jpg
Nominee1:Phil Murphy
Party1:Democratic
Running Mate1:Sheila Oliver
Popular Vote1:1,339,471
Percentage1:51.22%
Nominee2:Jack Ciattarelli
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Running Mate2:Diane Allen
Popular Vote2:1,255,185
Percentage2:48.00%
Governor
Before Election:Phil Murphy
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Phil Murphy
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the governor of New Jersey. Incumbent governor Phil Murphy was first elected in 2017 with 56% of the vote[3] and won re-election to a second term. Murphy and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, defeated the Republican ticket of Jack Ciattarelli and Diane Allen, 51.2% to 48%.

Murphy formally announced his intention to run for a second term on October 1, 2020.[4] Primaries were held on June 8, 2021. Murphy, who won the Democratic nomination unopposed after his two primary challengers were disqualified, faced Ciattarelli, Green nominee Madelyn Hoffman, Libertarian nominee Gregg Mele, and Socialist Workers Party nominee Joanne Kuniansky in the general election. The race was considered by many media outlets to be a "safe" or "likely" Democratic hold, as Murphy had led a majority of pre-election polls by double digits.[5] However, Murphy defeated Ciattarelli by a much smaller margin than expected.

Murphy is the first Democratic governor of New Jersey to win re-election since Brendan Byrne in 1977, as well as the first candidate of the same party as the incumbent U.S. president to win since Thomas Kean in 1985. This is also the first New Jersey gubernatorial election since 2009 where both the Democratic and Republican nominees received more than one million votes each.[6] It also was the first New Jersey gubernatorial election where the Green Party candidate placed third. Murphy also became the first Democrat to win a New Jersey gubernatorial election without carrying Gloucester and Cumberland Counties since Robert B. Meyner in 1953, and the first Democrat to win a gubernatorial election without carrying Atlantic County since Richard J. Hughes in 1961.

Atlantic County voted for the losing candidate for the first time since 1993. Also, this was the first New Jersey gubernatorial election in which Somerset County voted more Democratic than the state as a whole since 1910. Murphy became the first New Jersey Governor since Brendan Byrne to win both of his elections with a majority of the vote each time. It was the first single-digit Democratic win in a governor's election since 1961.[7] [8]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Disqualified

Declined

Lieutenant Governor nomination

Nominee

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrew

Declined

Fundraising

Primary campaign finance activity through June 28, 2021
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
data-sort-value="Ciattarelli, Jack"Jack Ciattarelli data-sort-value=7125870$7,125,870 data-sort-value=7045692$7,045,692 data-sort-value=69178$69,178
data-sort-value="Levine, Brian"Brian Levine data-sort-value=1<$5,800 data-sort-value=1<$5,800 data-sort-value=1<$5,800
data-sort-value="Rizzo, Phil"Phil Rizzo data-sort-value=678619$678,619 data-sort-value=655282$655,282 data-sort-value=23337$23,337
data-sort-value="Singh, Hirsh"Hirsh Singh data-sort-value=616398$616,398 data-sort-value=615931$615,931 data-sort-value=468$468
data-sort-value="Steinhardt, Doug"Doug Steinhardt (withdrew) data-sort-value=248345$248,345 data-sort-value=221819$221,819 data-sort-value=26527$26,527
Source: New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission

Lieutenant Governor nomination

Nominee

Potential candidates not selected

On May 4, 2021, the New Jersey Globe published a list of nine potential candidates for lieutenant governor after speaking with "more than two dozen Republican leaders, strategists and activists."[35] Diane Allen (who was selected as Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli's running mate) was one of the names on this list. The others were:

Debates

A second debate on NJ PBS featuring Ciattarelli and Singh and moderated by NJ Spotlight News reporters Briana Vannozzi, Colleen O'Dea, and David Cruz was planned for May 26, 2021,[37] but later cancelled on May 24, 2021,[38] after Singh announced that he would decline to participate.[39]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Jack
Ciattarelli		Brian
Levine		Phil
Rizzo		Hirsh
Singh		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)May 24–25, 2021591 (LV)± 4.1%29%2%8%23%38%
Brad Parscale (R)April 16–21, 2021>1200 (LV)± 3%20%3%10%22%—

Results

General election

Five candidates appeared on the general election ballot, the lowest number of candidates for a New Jersey gubernatorial election since 1953, which also featured five.[40]

Candidates

Withdrew

Fundraising

General election campaign finance activity through November 19, 2021
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
data-sort-value="Murphy, Phil"Phil Murphy data-sort-value=16747434$16,747,434 data-sort-value=16393069$16,393,069 data-sort-value=354365$354,365
data-sort-value="Ciattarelli, Jack"Jack Ciattarelli data-sort-value=16361174$16,361,174 data-sort-value=15828691$15,828,691 data-sort-value=532483$532,483
data-sort-value="Mele, Gregg"Gregg Mele data-sort-value=6000$6,000 data-sort-value=1<$5,800 data-sort-value=1N/A
data-sort-value="Hoffman, Madelyn"Madelyn Hoffman data-sort-value=1874$1,874 data-sort-value=1<$5,800 data-sort-value=1<$5,800
data-sort-value="Kuniansky, Joanne"Joanne Kuniansky data-sort-value=1<$5,800 data-sort-value=1<$5,800 data-sort-value=1<$5,800
Source: New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission[50]

Debates

Although New Jersey State Law gives until September 1, 2021, for independent gubernatorial candidates to fundraise $490,000 to qualify for the debates, the invitees of the first debate were definitively stated at around July 20, 2021, which was over a month before the deadline.[51] [52] Despite the third-party candidates being ineligible to debate in any debates that were sponsored by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, the New Jersey Globe held another debate for third-party lieutenant governor candidates on October 11, 2021.[53]

2021 New Jersey gubernatorial debates
DateHostModeratorLinkDemocraticRepublicanLibertarianGreenSocialist Workers
Participant  <----> Absent   Non-invitee   Invitee<----> WithdrawnPhil MurphyJack CiattarelliGregg MeleMadelyn HoffmanJoanne Kuniansky
1[54] [55] September 28, 2021NJPACSade Baderinwa
Brian Taff		https://www.c-span.org/video/?514991-1/jersey-gubernatorial-debatePPNNN
2October 12, 2021NJ PBSBriana Vannozzihttps://www.c-span.org/video/?515129-1/jersey-gubernatorial-debatePPNNN
2021 New Jersey Lieutenant Governor debates
DateHostModeratorLinkDemocraticRepublicanLibertarianGreenSocialist Workers
Participant  <----> Absent   Non-invitee   Invitee<----> WithdrawnSheila OliverDiane AllenEveline BrownsteinHeather WarburtonVivian Sahner
1October 5, 2021New Jersey GlobeDavid Wildstein
Shenell McCloud
Micah Rasmussen		https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3nxxB_XL2UPPNNN
2October 11, 2021Joey Foxhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9_UGPOQYC0NNPPW

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
align=left The Cook Political Report[56] October 5, 2021
align=left Inside Elections[57] November 1, 2021
align=left Sabato's Crystal Ball[58] November 1, 2021

Polling

Table

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Phil
Murphy (D)		Jack
Ciattarelli (R)		OtherUndecided
Research Co.October 31 – November 1, 2021450 (LV)± 4.6%50%44%1%5%
The Trafalgar Group (R)October 29–31, 20211,085 (LV)± 3.0%49%45%1%4%
Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityOctober 23–28, 2021823 (RV)± 3.4%53%44%3%–
Rutgers-EagletonOctober 21–27, 2021901 (RV)± 4.1%50%42%-8%
Stockton UniversityOctober 17–26, 2021522 (LV)± 4.3%50%41%6%3%
Monmouth UniversityOctober 21–25, 20211,000 (RV)± 3.1%50%39%2%9%
Emerson CollegeOctober 15–18, 2021600 (LV)± 3.9%50%44%–7%
Schoen Cooperman Research (D)October 9–12, 2021500 (LV)± 4.4%50%41%–9%
Stockton UniversitySeptember 17–25, 2021552 (LV)± 4.1%50%41%6%3%
Monmouth UniversitySeptember 16–20, 2021804 (RV)± 3.5%51%38%3%9%
National Research Inc. (R)September 13–16, 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%45%42%–10%
Fabrizio Lee & Associates (R)August 24–29, 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%43%41%3%14%
Monmouth UniversityAugust 11–16, 2021810 (RV)± 3.5%52%36%3%9%
National Research Inc. (R)June 17–22, 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%49%37%-14%
Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityJune 9–16, 2021803 (RV)± 3.9%48%33%5%14%
Rutgers UniversityMay 21–29, 2021493 (A)± 5.4%52%24%13%12%
467 (RV)± 5.6%52%26%11%10%
Change Research (D)May 15–20, 20211,215 (A)± 3.9%47%36%-17%
National Research Inc. (R)April 11–13, 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%47%30%-23%
Phil Murphy vs. generic opponent
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Phil
Murphy (D)		Generic
Opponent		Undecided
Rutgers-EagletonMay 21–29, 2021461 (RV)–42%31%27%
Monmouth UniversityApril 29 – May 4, 2021661 (RV)± 3.8%48%44%8%

Results

During the election, several technical problems with internet connections were reported across the state after newly installed voting machines were used for the first time, resulting in machine malfunctions that were eventually resolved. This caused a delay in the final results.[59] [60] [61] With 98% of the vote tallied, Ciattarelli conceded to Murphy at a news conference on November 12, 2021, and announced he would run again in 2025.[62] This was the first time since 1949 that the winning gubernatorial candidate did not win a majority of counties, and the first since 1940 that a Democrat did so.

Results by county

CountyMurphyCiattarelliOthersTotalMargin
VotesPercentVotesPercentVotesPercentVotesVotesPercent
Atlantic35,73644.0%44,97755.3%5950.7%81,308-9,241-11.30%
Bergen145,15052.5%129,64446.9%1,5560.6%276,35015,5065.60%
Burlington82,87753.3%71,77246.1%8980.6%155,54711,1057.20%
Camden92,16261.7%56,01637.5%1,2140.8%149,39236,14624.20%
Cape May14,18336.7%24,26062.8%2180.6%38,661-10,077-26.10%
Cumberland13,97843.6%17,79455.6%2570.8%32,029-3,816-12.00%
Essex132,52074.0%45,54225.4%1,1050.6%179,16786,97848.60%
Gloucester44,95944.6%54,97654.6%8130.8%100,748-10,017-10.00%
Hudson88,06673.6%30,44325.4%1,2061.0%119,71557,62348.20%
Hunterdon22,82040.2%33,45958.9%5050.9%56,784-10,639-18.70%
Mercer66,15165.1%34,61734.1%8570.8%101,62531,53431.00%
Middlesex116,35255.9%90,29743.4%2,1090.7%208,75826,05512.50%
Monmouth96,66440.3%141,10058.8%2,0240.8%239,788-44,436-18.50%
Morris81,91544.1%102,76955.3%1,2390.7%185,923-20,854-11.20%
Ocean68,61531.8%145,75667.5%1,4390.7%215,810-77,141-35.70%
Passaic57,81251.5%53,55147.7%9610.9%112,3244,2613.80%
Salem6,89335.0%12,62064.1%1780.9%19,691-5,727-29.10%
Somerset58,58551.5%54,26447.7%8230.7%113,6724,3213.80%
Sussex17,34631.9%36,31066.8%6631.2%54,319-18,964-34.90%
Union83,91361.6%51,27937.6%1,1260.8%136,31832,63424.00%
Warren12,77434.6%23,73964.2%4441.2%36,957-10,965-29.60%
Total1,339,47151.22%1,255,18548.00%20,2300.77%2,614,88684,2863.22%

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Results by congressional district

Murphy and Ciattarelli each won six of 12 congressional districts. Four districts won by Ciattarelli were represented by Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

DistrictMurphyCiattarelliRepresentative
56.8%41.5%Donald Norcross
40.2%58.9%Jeff Van Drew
42.5%56.2%Andy Kim
39.6%59.6%Chris Smith
45.9%53.2%
51.3%47.7%Frank Pallone
46.5%52.7%Tom Malinowski
73.3%25.8%Albio Sires
57.9%41.9%Bill Pascrell
81.4%15.6%Donald Payne Jr.
46.4%53.0%Mikie Sherrill
62.3%36.8%Bonnie Watson Coleman
[63]

See also

External links

Official campaign websites

Notes and References

  1. News: 2021-11-02. New Jersey Election Results. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-11-03. 0362-4331.
  2. Web site: Total Number of Registered Voters, Ballots Cast, Ballots Rejected, Percentage of Ballots Cast and the Total Number of Election Districts in New Jersey. Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 30, 2021. November 30, 2021.
  3. Web site: New Jersey Governor race results 2017 . . . November 7, 2017.
  4. Web site: David . Wildstein . Murphy formally launches bid for 2nd term as governor, will run with Oliver . . Sea of Reeds Media . October 1, 2020 . November 9, 2020.
  5. Web site: New Jersey Governor. RealClearPolitics. November 4, 2021.
  6. Web site: Murphy wins bruising N.J. governor's race, narrowly beating Ciattarelli for 2nd term. November 3, 2021.
  7. Web site: LIVE NJ Election 2021 Updates: Phil Murphy wins reelection for governor in NJ over Jack Ciattarell. WABC-TV. November 3, 2021. November 3, 2021. November 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211103232028/https://abc7ny.com/nj-election-results-live-phil-murphy-jack-ciattarelli-who-is-winning-governor-race-new-jersey/11193247/. dead.
  8. Web site: New Jersey Governor Election Results 2021 Live Map Updates Voting by County. 2021-11-03. Politico. en.
  9. News: Wildstein . David . Bacon doesn't qualify as candidate for governor, judge says . April 13, 2021 . New Jersey Globe . April 13, 2021.
  10. News: Wildstein . David . Judge tosses McCormick from ballot, finds petitions to be fraudulent . April 13, 2021 . New Jersey Globe . April 13, 2021.
  11. Web site: Matt . Friedman . A year ahead of Murphy's reelection, a détente among New Jersey's top Democrats . . November 11, 2020 . January 1, 2021.
  12. Web site: David . Wildstein . Holley announces Senate bid . . Sea of Reeds Media . February 9, 2021.
  13. Web site: Nikita . Biryukov . Sweeney not ready to back Murphy for re-election . . Sea of Reeds Media . June 27, 2019.
  14. Web site: Brindle . Jeff . 2021 Gubernatorial Primary Spending Relatively Modest by Historical Standards . . July 4, 2021 . June 30, 2021.
  15. Web site: Sheila Oliver vows to be a 'very different' lieutenant governor. July 26, 2017. POLITICO. " Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy officially announced former Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver as his running mate on Wednesday...".
  16. Web site: Dustin . Racioppi . First GOP challenger announces run to unseat NJ Gov. Phil Murphy . . . January 21, 2020 . January 22, 2020.
  17. Web site: Nikita . Biryukov . Levine filing to run for governor . . Sea of Reeds Media . January 16, 2021.
  18. Web site: Peter . D'Auria . Phil Rizzo, pastor at conservative Hudson County church, announces bid for governor . . . February 15, 2021.
  19. Web site: David . Wildstein . Singh launches bid for Governor against Murphy . . Sea of Reeds Media . November 9, 2020.
  20. Web site: David . Wildstein . Rullo says N.J. should ditch driver licenses for undocumented residents . . Sea of Reeds Media . December 29, 2020 . January 2, 2021.
  21. Web site: David . Wildstein . Rullo drops out of gubernatorial race . . Sea of Reeds Media . March 26, 2021 . March 28, 2021.
  22. Web site: December 10, 2020 . Doug Steinhardt will run for governor against Phil Murphy . . Sea of Reeds Media.
  23. Web site: Steinhardt drops out of GOP gubernatorial race . . Sea of Reeds Media . January 11, 2021 . January 12, 2021.
  24. Web site: Lundy . Chris . Ocean County Commissioner Screening For Governor Nod . Jersey Shore Online . January 19, 2021 . January 18, 2021.
  25. Web site: David . Wildstein . Vicari drops out of governor's race . . Sea of Reeds Media . January 23, 2021.
  26. Web site: Bramnick Won't Run For Governor In '21 . InsiderNJ . December 9, 2020 . December 9, 2020.
  27. Web site: Christie sitting out New Jersey governor's race — and no one's complaining. Matt. Friedman. Politico PRO.
  28. Web site: Nikita . Biryukov . Kyrillos not running for governor . . Sea of Reeds Media . July 29, 2019 . November 10, 2020.
  29. Web site: David . Wildstein . Mehta will challenge Malinowski for 7th district congressional race . . Sea of Reeds Media . February 1, 2021.
  30. Web site: Rik Mehta Endorses Ciattarelli . Insider NJ . January 25, 2021.
  31. Web site: John . Van Vliet . Schepisi Will Not Run for Governor in 2021 . InsiderNJ . January 31, 2020 . February 1, 2020.
  32. Web site: . Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi on women in NJ politics, Reporters Roundtable . . January 29, 2021 . March 28, 2021 . "DAVID CRUZ: "Any chance that you would take a seat on Jack Ciattarelli's ticket?" HOLLY SCHEPISI: "It has not been discussed. I'm always open to explore opportunity and Jack is an amazing candidate. I am 100% behind him.".
  33. Web site: It's Jack and Diane: Ciattarelli picks Allen as Lt. Governor candidate . New Jersey Globe . August 2, 2021.
  34. Web site: Matt . Rooney . Schepisi could take off like a rocket. Stopping Apter would fuel her rise. . Save Jersey . March 16, 2021 . March 17, 2021.
  35. Web site: David . Wildstein . Who could be Ciattarelli's running mate? Here's a possible short list . . Sea of Reeds Media . May 4, 2021 . May 27, 2021.
  36. Web site: Brindle . Jeff . PRESS ADVISORY . . May 6, 2021 . May 6, 2021.
  37. Web site: NJ PBS to Host, Broadcast, and Stream Virtual GOP Gubernatorial Primary Debate on Wednesday, May 26 at 8PM. May 4, 2021.
  38. Web site: NJ PBS Cancels Gubernatorial Primary Republican Debate . . . May 24, 2021 . May 26, 2021.
  39. Web site: Matt . Arco . N.J. Republican gubernatorial debate called off after candidate refuses COVID test . . . May 24, 2021 . May 26, 2021.
  40. News: Five Candidates to be on November 2021 Ballot for New Jersey Governor . . June 9, 2021 . Winger . Richard.
  41. Web site: Johnson . Brent . Ex-state Sen. Diane Allen to be Ciattarelli's running mate in challenging Murphy for N.J. gov . NJ.com . August 2, 2021 . August 2, 2021.
  42. Web site: Gregg . Mele . (Instagram post) . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CMqAn69lbBc . December 26, 2021 . registration. . March 21, 2021 . "Today Greg accepted the NJLP nomination for Governor.".
  43. Web site: Mele Brownstein. 2021-06-09. Mele for NJ Governor. en. June 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210609230522/https://www.meleforgovernor.com/about. dead.
  44. Web site: Madelyn Hoffman announces her intention to seek nomination for governor of New Jersey in 2021 . Weekender NJ . April 7, 2021.
  45. Web site: Green Party of NJ invites everyone to attend online 2021 annual convention Sunday May 2nd . Insider NJ . May 21, 2021.
  46. Web site: Joanne Kuniansky, Socialist Workers Party candidate for New Jersey governor, files over 1500 signatures on May 20th at the Office of Elections in Trenton . Insider NJ . May 27, 2021.
  47. Web site: New Jersey gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2021. Ballotpedia.
  48. Web site: Weedman Running For Governor, Will Challenge Murphy From Left On Marijuana Legalization . New Jersey Globe . June 9, 2021 . David . Wildstein .
  49. Web site: Symons . Michael . NJWeedman won't be on ballot for governor, after Dems challenge . . June 15, 2021 . June 15, 2021.
  50. Web site: Independent Spending Drives Up Cost of 2021 Gubernatorial Election. New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. November 25, 2021. November 24, 2021.
  51. Web site: REGULATIONS OF THE ELECTION LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20081022220550/http://www.elec.state.nj.us/pdffiles/regulations/regulations.pdf . October 22, 2008 .
  52. Web site: Wildstein. David. David Wildstein. July 20, 2021. ELEC announces gubernatorial, Lt. Governor debate. live. New Jersey Globe. https://web.archive.org/web/20210720184809/https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/elec-announces-gubernatorial-lt-governor-debate/ . July 20, 2021 .
  53. News: Two independent Lt. Governor candidates to debate tonight. Wildstein. David. October 11, 2021. October 11, 2021. New Jersey Globe.
  54. Web site: Brindle . Jeff . Dates Set for Gubernatorial Election Debates . . August 28, 2021 . August 25, 2021.
  55. Web site: 2021 NJ Gubernatorial Debate Hosted by NJPAC Set for Sept. 28th . Insider NJ . September 18, 2021 . September 8, 2021.
  56. Web site: 2022 Governor Race Ratings for November 5, 2021 . The Cook Political Report . December 9, 2021.
  57. Web site: December 9, 2021 . Gubernatorial Ratings . Inside Elections.
  58. Web site: 2022 Gubernatorial race ratings . Sabato's Crystal Ball . March 11, 2021.
  59. News: Vigdor. Neil. Tully. Tracey. 2021-11-02. Poll workers in New Jersey struggle to connect to the internet, causing delays.. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-11-04. 0362-4331.
  60. Web site: NJ.com. Josh Solomon NJ Advance Media for. 2021-11-03. Despite polling glitches, were N.J. elections a success for voters? Depends on who you ask.. 2021-11-04. nj. en.
  61. Web site: 2021-11-02. Voting Machine Malfunctions Trouble Election Early. 2021-11-04. Insider NJ. en-US.
  62. News: Republican Jack Ciattarelli concedes to incumbent Phil Murphy in New Jersey gubernatorial race. en-US. Washington Post. 2021-11-13. 0190-8286.
  63. News: Fox. Joey. November 23, 2021. Ciattarelli won all five of New Jersey's competitive congressional districts. New Jersey Globe. live. November 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211124004103/https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/ciattarelli-won-all-five-of-new-jerseys-competitive-congressional-districts/. November 24, 2021.

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