Nine candidates are running in the June 10, 2025, Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is term-limited, meaning the office is open. The last Republican governor was Chris Christie, who left office in 2018.
Rider University’s Micah Rasmussen said, “It has been a long time since it’s been up for grabs, and so, all of our top figures on the Republican side and the Democratic side are finding this an irresistible race to jump at.”
Among Republicans, Jon Bramnick, Jack Ciattarelli, and Bill Spadea lead in polling, endorsements, and fundraising.
Jon Bramnick
Bramnick represented District 21 of the New Jersey General Assembly from 2003 to 2022, when he was elected to the state Senate. In the former role, he served as Assembly minority leader. Bramnick began his legal career as an attorney in New York City. He was later a business law professor and founded the law firm Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas & Woodruff.
Before the 2024 presidential election, Bramnick said, “If Donald Trump wins New Jersey, I will absolutely withdraw. Because if that’s what New Jersey wants, I ain’t your guy.” His campaign website listed the economy, community safety, sustainable energy, preventing overdevelopment, education, healthcare, and government efficiency as key issues.
Jack Ciattarelli
This is Ciattarelli’s third run for governor. He first ran in 2017, when he lost in the Republican primary to Kim Guadagno. He won the Republican primary in 2021 and lost 51-48% to Murphy in the general election. Ciattarelli previously served on the Raritan Borough Council and the Somerset County Board of Commissioners before representing the 16th Districtofthe New Jersey General Assembly.
Ciattarelli’s campaign website said, “When you compare the records of the announced and presumptive GOP gubernatorial candidates as individual vote-getters and party leaders, there is no comparison. By far, Jack Ciattarelli is superior.”
Bill Spadea
Spadea was a radio host, most recently of the Bill Spadea Show. He formerly served in the U.S. Marine Corps and hosted Chasing News with Bill Spadea. Spadea’s first run for office was for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District in 2004. He also ran in a 2012 special election for a state Assembly seat.
Spadea’s campaign website listed illegal immigration, the economy, and infrastructure as priorities. In a campaign ad, Spadea said, “I’m a real conservative, tough on immigration, and will cut taxes. As your governor, I will put you and New Jersey first.”
Feb. 4 debate
Bramnick, Ciattarelli, Spadea, and former state Sen. Ed Durr (R) debated on Feb. 4, 2025. The New Jersey Monitor’sDana DiFilippo wrote, “Spadea, Durr, and Ciattarelli fought over who was most MAGA. … Bramnick, the lone anti-Trump Republican on the stage, took a different tack…”
Bramnick said in the debate, “Do you think the people of New Jersey want the debate to be who loves Trump the most or who loves New Jersey the most?”
In his closing statement, Ciattarelli said, “We’ve got crises in this state and we need a serious candidate, a serious candidate who brings very positive energy to campaign, who is going to get up and down the state and, unlike my two opponents, raise money to win the election.”
Spadea said in his closing statement, “I’m going to commit to you tonight to serve one term as your governor, because we have to separate the politics of reelection from the job of governing, and when you look at what has to happen in this state, a lot of unpopular political decisions will be made.”
Roger Bacon, Monica Brinson, Robert Canfield, James Fazzone, and Hans Herberg are also running.