Congressman just jumped into fierce race to succeed Murphy as N.J. governor

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a five-term congressman from Bergen County, formally launched his long-expected big to become New Jersey’s next governor, jumping into an already crowded field in an increasingly fierce race.
A 49-year-old former Bill Clinton speechwriter and centrist Democrat, Gottheimer is the fifth member of his party to enter next year’s election to succeed Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who is term-limited and will enter his final year in office next year.
He made the announcement in front of hundreds of supporters, state lawmakers, and local officials at a very packed Runway Diner in South Hackensack — 10 days after he won re-election to his seat representing North Jersey’s 5th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
His speech focused largely on promises to “make New Jersey more affordable again.”
“I’m a Jersey guy through and through,” Gottheimer said. “I love Jersey. It’s in my bones. But the thing is: Life in Jersey has become too damn expensive. We pay too much in taxes and too much to live.”
“It’s time for a reboot.”
Gottheimer promised to reduce New Jersey’s high cost of listing and slash its notorious income and property taxes.
“Let me say that again, because I don’t think you’ve heard that from a Democrat in a long time,” Gottheimer said. “It’s all too much and needs to go down.”
The event, held in a blue-collar part of Gottheimer’s district, comes on the heels of a presidential election that exit polls showed hinged on the economy, as Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris lost to Republican former President Donald Trump. Harris carried blue New Jersey by only 5 percentage points, while Gottheimer won his district by 11 points.
“If last week’s election taught Democrats anything, it’s that people think politicians aren’t listening to them,” Gottheimer said. “It’s the economy, stupid, and hard-working middle-class families like you deserve relief.”
Gottheimer gave no specifics on how he would pay for tax cuts, including whether he would cut services. He did vow to be a “clawback czar” to bring more federal funding to New Jersey.
A North Caldwell native and Tenafly resident, Gottheimer has served in Congress since 2017, after he flipped a seat Republicans held for decades. He is a prolific fundraiser who also co-chairs the House’s Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers that seeks to broker deals on major legislation in Congress.
On Friday, Gottheimer noted he helped pass laws on gun control, climate change, and transportation. He also promised to revamp the tax code to make it easier for people to move to New Jersey; reduce energy bills by having more solar and wind energy; double down on property tax relief programs such as Stay NJ, which aims to cut taxes for seniors; boost law enforcement; and continue his long fights against New York’s congestion pricing plan and to restore the SALT deduction.
His moderate stances have sometimes drawn the ire of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party — which could be a big challenge in next June’s gubernatorial primary.
Gottheimer said Friday he would cut taxes and costs “while protecting the values we believe in as Democrats,” including reproductive rights.
“Our diversity remains our greatest strength and we believe in helping people out when they need it and fighting Donald Trump when we need to,” he said.
Gottheimer joins an overflowing field of Democratic candidates that include Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Stephen Sweeney.
Another Democratic House member from North Jersey, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, is expected to join the race Monday.
On the Republican side, there are five declared contenders: state Sen. Jon Bramnick, real estate broker Robert Canfield, former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, and former state Sen. Ed Durr, and radio host Bill Spadea
It’s shaping up to be heated contest for an open seat, with the winner assuming one of the most powerful governorships in America, approving not only new laws and the state budget but a wide array of appointments, including the ability to pick a state attorney general and nominate judges. New Jersey is a blue state, but voters often go back and forth between parties when selecting a governor.
While the other candidates have jumped in recent months, it has widely been expected that Gottheimer and Sherrill would join. They have waited until just after they were re-elected to their House seats last week.
Sitting on tables in the diner Friday were faux menus with Gottheimer’s photo and food items — Gottheimer’s “Got-Your-Back” Bagel, Property Tax Toast. Supporters wore baseball caps that read: “Josh 4 Jersey.”
“Everything good in Jersey starts in a diner, Gottheimer said at the start of his speech. ”And after last week, we need some good news.”
Gottheimer was a White House speechwriter during President Bill Clinton’s second term and also worked as an adviser to presidential campaigns for Democrats Wesley Clark, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton.
He was elected to Congress in 2016, when he ousted seven-term Republican Rep. Scott Garrett in the 5th District, ending 84 years of GOP rule there. His district includes Bergen County suburbs and parts of Passaic and Sussex counties.
Gottheimer, an outspoken ally of Israel, would be the first Jewish New Jersey governor if elected — as would Fulop, the Jersey City mayor. Gottheimer on Friday promised to battle antisemitism with the “full force” of the law.
As well-funded, politically active members of Congress with support from top party leaders, both Gottheimer and Sherrill are considered prime contenders for the governor’s office and bring a new dimension to the race.
Insiders expect Sherrill to get party support in big counties like Essex, Middlesex, and Passaic, while Gottheimer is likely to land Bergen. There are two other things that could help Gottheimer, said Matt Hale, a political science professor at Seton Hall University and a Democratic council member in Highland Park.
“No. 1, he’s got a lot of money, and no, 2 he’s a centrist,” Hale said. “Those are good things in New Jersey. He’s the type of Democrat New Jersey tends to gravitate towards.”
Tina Zappile, director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University, said Gottheimer’s strong election history also helps considering how close Murphy’s 2021 re-election victory was. She notes he won his seat in 2016, the year Trump first took the presidency, and has won ever since.
“Gottheimer’s record has thus far been strong,” Zappile said.
No candidate, though, has major name recognition, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released this week. For Gottheimer, 56% of registered voters don’t know who he is, while 15% have a favorable view of him, 8% unfavorable, and 21% have no opinion.
Another big factor: The primary likely won’t feature the state’s “county line” ballot design, in which candidates endorsed by powerful county party leaders have long received choice placement and helped party bosses sway elections. A judge struck it down for last year’s Democratic primaries, and it appears on the verge of going away completely. That makes the race even more open.
“Just because the lines aren’t there doesn’t mean the party apparatus is irrelevant. Getting those endorsements is less important, but they are still important,” Hale said.
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Brent Johnson may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @johnsb01.