On November 2nd, 2021 the NJ Gubernatorial Election will be held between the Democratic candidate incumbent Governor Phil Murphy (D-NJ), and the Republican candidate and former New Jersey General Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-NJ).

Party primaries were held on June 8th, 2021, where Jack Ciattarelli (R-NJ) won 49.4% of the vote, and Phil Rizzo (R-NJ) came in second with 25.9% of the vote, and Jack Ciattarelli winning the primary. The Democratic primary was uncontested, therefore incumbent Governor Phil Murphy (D-NJ) got the automatic nomination.

Some mentionable names Jack Ciattarelli has been endorsed by are; Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (R-SC), Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R-AZ), Former New Jersey Governor Donald DiFrancesco (R-NJ), and US Representative Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) from New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District. US Representative Donald Norcross (D-NJ), from New Jersey’s 1st Congressional District, has been the only mentionable person to endorse Governor Phil Murphy, but more are expected to come out and endorse him closer to the General Election.

As of July 9th, 2021, The Cook Political Report has this race as a solid Democrat win, and the Sabato’s Crystal Ball has this race as a likely Democrat win. But as we have seen in past New Jersey Gubernatorial Elections, the incumbent Democrat Governor has not won reelection since Brendan Byrne (D-NJ) in 1977, so do we have an upset on our hands?

By: Jacob Salvatore