2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election

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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[2] 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%.

Quick facts Turnout, Nominee ...
2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election
← 2017
November 2, 2021
2025 →
Turnout40.5%[1] (Increase2.0%)
 
Nominee Phil Murphy Jack Ciattarelli
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Sheila Oliver Diane Allen
Popular vote 1,339,471 1,255,185
Percentage 51.22% 48.00%
Murphy:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Ciattarelli:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes
Governor before election

Phil Murphy
Democratic

 Elected Governor

Phil Murphy
Democratic

Close

Murphy formally announced his intention to run for a second term on October 1, 2020.[3] 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.[4] However, Murphy defeated Ciattarelli by a much smaller margin than expected.[5]

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.[5] 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. Murphy received the most votes for a Democrat or any governor since 1989, and Ciattarelli received the most for a Republican since 2013.[6][7] Despite failing to flip the state, Ciattarelli swung the state more Republican from the 2020 presidential election than Glenn Youngkin, the Republican candidate for the concurrent Virginia gubernatorial election, did in his respective state even as he managed to flip the governorship. Ciattarelli also won three counties that Murphy won in 2017: Atlantic, Cumberland, and Gloucester.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Disqualified

  • Roger Bacon, perennial candidate[8]
  • Lisa McCormick, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018[9]

Declined

Fundraising

More information Primary campaign finance activity through June 28, 2021, Candidate ...
Primary campaign finance activity through June 28, 2021
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Phil Murphy$7,966,075$7,752,229$213,846
Source: New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission[13]
Close

Lieutenant gubernatorial nomination

Nominee

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Phil Murphy (incumbent) 382,984 100.0%
Total votes 382,984 100.0%
Close

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrew

Declined

Fundraising

More information Primary campaign finance activity through June 28, 2021, Candidate ...
Primary campaign finance activity through June 28, 2021
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Jack Ciattarelli$7,125,870$7,045,692$69,178
Brian Levine<$5,800<$5,800<$5,800
Phil Rizzo$678,619$655,282$23,337
Hirsh Singh$616,398$615,931$468
Doug Steinhardt (withdrew)$248,345$221,819$26,527
Source: New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission[13]
Close

Endorsements

Hirsh Singh

Individuals

  • Joseph Rudy Rullo, businessman, actor, and perennial candidate[21]
Phil Rizzo

State Legislators

Individuals

Lieutenant gubernatorial nomination

Nominee

  • Diane Allen, former state senator from the 7th district (1998–2018) and candidate for US Senate in 2002[35]

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."[37] 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

More information No., Date ...
2021 New Jersey Republican gubernatorial primary debates
No. Date Host Moderator Link Participants
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee W  Withdrawn
Jack Ciattarelli Brian Levine Phil Rizzo Hirsh Singh
1[38] May 25, 2021 WKXW Eric Scott [39] P N N P
Close

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,[40] but later cancelled on May 24, 2021,[41] after Singh announced that he would decline to participate.[42]

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Jack
Ciattarelli		 Brian
Levine		 Phil
Rizzo		 Hirsh
Singh		 Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)[43][A] May 24–25, 2021 591 (LV) ± 4.1% 29% 2% 8% 23% 38%
Brad Parscale (R)[44][B] April 16–21, 2021 >1200 (LV) ± 3.0% 20% 3% 10% 22% –
Close

Results

Results by county:
  Ciattarelli
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
  •   40–50%
  •   <40%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Ciattarelli 167,690 49.46%
Republican Philip Rizzo 87,007 25.66%
Republican Hirsh V. Singh 73,155 21.58%
Republican Brian D. Levine 11,181 3.30%
Total votes 339,033 100.0%
Close

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.[45]

Candidates

Withdrew

Fundraising

More information General election campaign finance activity through November 19, 2021, Candidate ...
General election campaign finance activity through November 19, 2021
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Phil Murphy$16,747,434$16,393,069$354,365
Jack Ciattarelli$16,361,174$15,828,691$532,483
Gregg Mele$6,000<$5,800N/A
Madelyn Hoffman$1,874<$5,800<$5,800
Joanne Kuniansky<$5,800<$5,800<$5,800
Source: New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission[55]
Close

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.[failed verification][56][57] 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.[58]

More information No., Date ...
2021 New Jersey gubernatorial debates
No. Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Republican Libertarian Green Socialist Workers
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee W  Withdrawn Phil Murphy Jack Ciattarelli Gregg Mele Madelyn Hoffman Joanne Kuniansky
1[59][60] September 28, 2021 NJPAC Sade Baderinwa
Brian Taff		 [61] P P N N N
2[59] October 12, 2021 NJ PBS Briana Vannozzi [62] P P N N N
Close
More information No., Date ...
2021 New Jersey Lieutenant Governor debates
No. Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Republican Libertarian Green Socialist Workers
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee W  Withdrawn Sheila Oliver Diane Allen Eveline Brownstein Heather Warburton Vivian Sahner
1[59] October 5, 2021 New Jersey Globe David Wildstein
Shenell McCloud
Micah Rasmussen		 [63] P P N N N
2[58] October 11, 2021 Joey Fox [64] N N P P W
Close

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[65] Solid D October 5, 2021
Inside Elections[66] Solid D November 1, 2021
Sabato's Crystal Ball[67] Likely D November 1, 2021
Close

Endorsements

Phil Murphy (D)

Executive branch officials

U.S. Senators

U.S. Representatives

State legislators

County executives

Local officials

Individuals

Organizations

Labor unions

Newspapers

Jack Ciattarelli (R)

Executive branch officials

Governors

U.S. Representatives

State legislators

Individuals

Newspapers

Trade associations

Declined to endorse

Labor unions

Organizations

Newspapers

Polling

Aggregate polls

More information Source of poll aggregation, Dates administered ...
Source of poll
aggregation		 Dates
administered		 Dates
updated		 Phil
Murphy (D)		 Jack
Ciattarelli (R)		 Other/Undecided
[c]		 Margin
Real Clear Politics[138] October 15–31, 2021 November 1, 2021 50.5% 42.7% 6.8% Murphy +7.8%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Phil
Murphy (D)		 Jack
Ciattarelli (R)		 Other Undecided
Research Co.[139] October 31 – November 1, 2021 450 (LV) ± 4.6% 50% 44% 1%[d] 5%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[140] October 29–31, 2021 1,085 (LV) ± 3.0% 49% 45% 1% 4%
Fairleigh Dickinson University[141] October 23–28, 2021 823 (RV) ± 3.4% 53% 44% 3%[e] –
Rutgers-Eagleton[142] October 21–27, 2021 901 (RV) ± 4.1% 50% 42% – 8%
Stockton University[143] October 17–26, 2021 522 (LV) ± 4.3% 50%[f] 41% 6%[g] 3%
48% 40% 7%[h] 5%
Monmouth University[144] October 21–25, 2021 1,000 (RV) ± 3.1% 50% 39% 2%[i] 9%
Emerson College[145][C] October 15–18, 2021 600 (LV) ± 3.9% 50% 44% – 7%
Schoen Cooperman Research (D)[146] October 9–12, 2021 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 50% 41% – 9%
Stockton University[147] September 17–25, 2021 552 (LV) ± 4.1% 50%[f] 41% 6%[j] 3%
47% 39% 6%[j] 8%
Monmouth University[148] September 16–20, 2021 804 (RV) ± 3.5% 51% 38% 3%[k] 9%
National Research Inc. (R)[149][D] September 13–16, 2021 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 45% 42% – 10%
Fabrizio Lee & Associates (R)[150][E] August 24–29, 2021 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 43% 41% 3%[l] 14%
46% 45% – 9%
Monmouth University[151] August 11–16, 2021 810 (RV) ± 3.5% 52% 36% 3%[m] 9%
National Research Inc. (R)[149][D] June 17–22, 2021 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 49% 37% – 14%
Fairleigh Dickinson University[152] June 9–16, 2021 803 (RV) ± 3.9% 48% 33% 5%[n] 14%
Rutgers University[153] May 21–29, 2021 493 (A) ± 5.4% 52% 24% 13%[o] 12%
467 (RV) ± 5.6% 52% 26% 11%[p] 10%
Change Research (D)[154][F] May 15–20, 2021 1,215 (A) ± 3.9% 47% 36% – 17%
National Research Inc. (R)[149][D] April 11–13, 2021 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 47% 30% – 23%
Close
Hypothetical polling

Phil Murphy vs. generic opponent

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Phil
Murphy (D)		 Generic
Opponent		 Other Undecided
Rutgers-Eagleton[153] May 21–29, 2021 461 (RV) – 42% 31% 21%[q] 6%
Monmouth University[155] April 29 – May 4, 2021 706 (A) ± 3.7% 48% 43% – 9%
661 (RV) ± 3.8% 48% 44% – 8%
Close

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.[156][157][158] 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.[159] 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.

More information Party, Candidate ...
2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election[160][r]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic
1,339,471 51.22% –4.81
Republican
1,255,185 48.00% +6.11
Green
  • Madelyn R. Hoffman
  • Heather Warburton
 8,450 0.32% –0.15
Libertarian
  • Gregg Mele
  • Eveline Brownstein
 7,768 0.30% –0.19
Socialist Workers
  • Joanne Kuniansky
  • Vivian Sahner
 4,012 0.15% N/A
Total votes 2,614,886 100.00% N/A
Turnout 2,648,814 40.47% +1.97
Registered electors 6,575,904
Democratic hold
Close

By county

More information County, Phil Murphy Democratic ...
County[160] Phil Murphy
Democratic		 Jack Ciattarelli
Republican		 Various candidates
Other parties		 Margin Total
# % # % # % # %
Atlantic 35,736 43.95% 44,977 55.32% 595 0.73% -9,241 -11.37% 81,308
Bergen 145,150 52.52% 129,644 46.91% 1,556 0.56% 15,506 5.61% 276,350
Burlington 82,877 53.28% 71,772 46.14% 898 0.58% 11,105 7.14% 155,547
Camden 92,162 61.69% 56,016 37.50% 1,214 0.81% 36,146 24.20% 149,392
Cape May 14,183 36.69% 24,260 62.75% 218 0.56% -10,077 -26.07% 38,661
Cumberland 13,978 43.72% 17,794 55.65% 201 0.63% -3,816 -11.94% 31,973
Essex 132,520 73.96% 45,542 25.42% 1,105 0.62% 86,978 48.55% 179,167
Gloucester 44,959 44.63% 54,976 54.57% 813 0.81% -10,017 -9.94% 100,748
Hudson 88,066 73.56% 30,443 25.43% 1,206 1.01% 57,623 48.13% 119,715
Hunterdon 22,820 40.19% 33,459 58.92% 505 0.89% -10,639 -18.74% 56,784
Mercer 66,151 65.09% 34,617 34.06% 857 0.84% 31,534 31.03% 101,625
Middlesex 116,352 55.74% 90,297 43.25% 2,109 1.01% 26,055 12.48% 208,758
Monmouth 96,664 40.31% 141,100 58.84% 2,024 0.84% -44,436 -18.53% 239,788
Morris 81,915 44.06% 102,769 55.28% 1,239 0.67% -20,854 -11.22% 185,923
Ocean 68,615 31.79% 145,756 67.54% 1,439 0.67% -77,141 -35.74% 215,810
Passaic 57,812 51.47% 53,551 47.68% 961 0.86% 4,261 3.79% 112,324
Salem 6,893 35.01% 12,620 64.09% 178 0.90% -5,727 -29.08% 19,691
Somerset 58,585 51.54% 54,264 47.74% 823 0.72% 4,321 3.80% 113,672
Sussex 17,346 31.93% 36,310 66.85% 663 1.22% -18,964 -34.91% 54,319
Union 83,913 61.56% 51,279 37.62% 1,126 0.83% 32,634 23.94% 136,318
Warren 12,774 34.56% 23,739 64.23% 444 1.20% -10,965 -29.67% 36,957
Totals1,339,47151.22%1,255,18548.00%20,2300.77%84,2863.22%2,614,886
Close

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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.

More information District, Murphy ...
District Murphy Ciattarelli Representative
1st 56.8% 41.5% Donald Norcross
2nd 40.2% 58.9% Jeff Van Drew
3rd 42.5% 56.2% Andy Kim
4th 39.6% 59.6% Chris Smith
5th 45.9% 53.2% Josh Gottheimer
6th 51.3% 47.7% Frank Pallone
7th 46.5% 52.7% Tom Malinowski
8th 73.3% 25.8% Albio Sires
9th 57.9% 41.9% Bill Pascrell
10th 81.4% 15.6% Donald Payne Jr.
11th 46.4% 53.0% Mikie Sherrill
12th 62.3% 36.8% Bonnie Watson Coleman
Close

[163]

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. [b]
    While the NJRTL recommended that voters choose Ciatarelli over Murphy, they refused to endorse him due to his support of abortion
  3. [c]
    Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  4. [d]
    "Some other candidate" with 1%
  5. [e]
    "Someone Else" with 3%; "No One" with 1%
  6. [f]
    With voters who lean towards a given candidate
  7. [g]
    "Some other candidate" with 4%; "Refused" with 2%
  8. [h]
    "Some other candidate" with 4%; "Refused" with 3%
  9. [i]
    "Other candidate" with 1%; "No one" with 1%
  10. [j]
    "Some other candidiate" with 5%; "Refused" with 1%
  11. [k]
    "Other candidate" with 2%; "No one" with <1%
  12. [l]
    Mele (L) with 2%; Hoffman (G) with 1%; Kuniansky (SW) with <1%
  13. [m]
    "Other candidate" with 2%; "No one" with 1%
  14. [n]
    "Someone Else" with 4%; "No One" with 1%
  15. [o]
    "Neither" with 7%; "Someone else" with 4%; "Would not vote" with 2%
  16. [p]
    "Neither" with 6%; "Someone else" with 4%; "Would not vote" with 1%
  17. [q]
    "Consider voting for someone else besides Murphy" with 21%
  18. [r]
    In New Jersey, within 30 days after the certification of the statewide primary election, the candidate for governor selects a running mate to join the ticket as the candidate for lieutenant governor.[161] The governor and lieutenant governor must be members of the same political party. As candidates they campaign on the same ticket, are elected conjointly, and serve the same four-year term concurrently.[161][162]

Partisan clients

  1. [A]
    This poll was sponsored by the Democratic Governors Association
  2. [B]
    Internal poll for the Hirsh Singh campaign
  3. [C]
    This poll was sponsored by PIX 11
  4. [D]
    Internal poll for the Jack Ciattarelli campaign
  5. [E]
    This poll was sponsored by Club for Growth
  6. [F]
    This poll was sponsored by Project Ready

References

External links

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