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Briana: It is primary election day New Jersey, with high and highly unpredictable races what.

11 candidates vying for their party's nomination to be the next governor.

Will the gubernatorial hopeful with President Trump's backing?

>> He knows I'm the only Republican who can win in November.

Briana: Will the Democratic Party favor take the top spot for that ticket?

>> We need different kinds of leaders.

I here to make sure I'm standing in the breach along with your Senate and assembly and mayors.

Briana: 41 of the candidates in the crowded field -- or will one of the candidates in the crowded field carve their own path to victory?

>> They are relying on this concept that New Jerseyans are not ready to elect an African-American man as governor of New Jersey and they are on.

>>, solutions-driven candidate.

>> They don't, unless they have a reason.

They are coming out against the federal government or coming out for change in New Jersey.

Briana: 80 status MB seats are up for grabs with an unusually high number of contested races.

>> It's a healthy thing for New Jersey, healthy thing for this district committed gives people real options, it does not slam the ballot where it is one party or one person.

Briana: Early voting numbers point to higher-than-expected turnout, making this anyone's game.

"NJ Decides 2025 primary election night coverage begins right now.

♪ >> From NJPBS Studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening, and thanks for joining us on this Tuesday night.

Primary night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

Polls will close in a couple of hours on the final day of voting in what has become the most expensive gubernatorial primary election in state history.

11 Republicans and Democrats are vying for their party's governor's seat this and succeed Phil Murphy, who is term limited.

The crowded field of candidates across both parties has spent more than $120 million on their campaigns to get there.

An "NJ Spotlight News" analysis finds the total to be much higher once you added money spent by groups organized outside New Jersey.

They have shattered spending on advertisements, blanketing the airwaves and filling up your mailboxes and inboxes, all with a unifying theme, President Donald Trump, either pinning themselves as the candidate to back him or buck him.

As one of two states electing a governor this year, all eyes are on New Jersey for a plea bargain responding to his presidency.

On the Republican side, most analysts predict third time candidate Jack Ciattarelli will breeze to the nomination after locking up an endorsement from President Trump and laying the groundwork for this campaign for years.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan has the latest on the GOP race.

Brenda: Jack Ciattarelli got the bro hugs here were people like him almost as much as the pies.

But he also got lots of practice.

It is Ciattarelli's third run for governor, after all.

An Emerson poll for the Somerset native 26 points of over talk-show host Bill Spadea, his closest competitor industries that also includes moderate Senator Jon Bramnick and Burlington contractor Justin Barbara.

>> We have put ourselves in a position to win and I believe that is what we will do tonight .

Brenda: Ciattarelli's escorted Donald Trump's coveted endorsement despite his opposition to the president during the first administration.

Now?

>> He has a temporary halt on the wind farms and beat up on a Democrats on the congestion pricing plan.

We are able to deduct federal taxes on the tax return.

Brenda: And he posted get out the vote message.

Pres.

Trump: I'm asking you to vote for Jack Ciattarelli.

>> It is impacting -- its impact remains to be seen.

Brenda: A tracking service says more than 70% of the political ads in this campaign mentioned Donald Trump, that is on both sides of the.

Analysts note that while the primary will gauge the president's political clout, it also gives Republicans a real choice.

>> I voted for Jack.

I've supported him from day one when he was a councilman years ago, worked on the campaign to help him get elected then.

I disagree with everything he stands for.

>> I voted -- I just agree with everything he stands for.

>> I voted for Bill Spadea.

Although I see Ciattarelli, I will vote for him over any free Democrat on the planet.

>> I'm hoping that Spadea can do a turnaround.

Brenda: Trump made inroads your last November and a picked the primary candidate he inks could turn New Jersey red.

It galled Spadea, who claims the troop MAGA mental.

>> Unaffiliated voters were not pulled who we know are turning out to vote today.

Brenda: Spadea says Trump is still miffed at him over passages agreement on issues like tariffs, but he refuses to apologize.

>> The president made a mistake.

He endorsed a poll and not a plan.

Jack Ciattarelli is so scared of losing the endorsement that he will not say anything medical of the president's plan.

>> I don't pay much attention to what Bill Spadea says.

His initials are BS for a reason.

Brenda: running a distant third, Bramnick speaks for traditional Republican sensibility.

>> I don't believe in hateful rhetoric, I don't believe in us versus them.

If we keep our messes are simple, lower taxes, smaller government, law and order, we will have a Republican governor November.

Brenda: Polls close at 8:00 p.m.

I am Brenda Flanagan, "NJ Spotlight News."

Briana: The open governor since he has unleashed a fierce battle on the Democratic side, where it is anyone's guess who will eat out a -- eke out a win.

Therein from the far left progressive wing to the altar centrist moderates.

That attacker could weigh heavily as this is the first primary election the coveted County line ballot, which group candidates who were grouped by the party.

A federal judge agreed with opponents that it offered an unfair advantage.

President Trump is also loomed large in this race.

The candidates are trying to seize on public dissatisfaction with the economy under his administration, poking it will propel them to victory and keep New Jersey blue.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis has more.

Joanna: It's been in a stork primary election season in New Jersey, with 11 candidates running to be the next governor, six of them Democrats who conceivably each have a path to victory tonight.

Many of them were out casting the roads today.

>> I feel good but I'm not taking anything for granted .

>> Anxiety, nervous, excited, all of the above.

>> Are we ready to win?

Joanna: They spent the weekend doing what candidates in New Jersey to come hitting the diners and other stuff to talk to voters, trying to secure any fraction of a lead in what is likely to be a very close race.

>> That's Steve Sweeney!

Joanna: Former Senate President Steve Sweeney is the only candidate from South Jersey, giving him a likely advantage in the South, especially if the other candidates split the vote in the north.

Camden has some of the highest vote by mail and early voting numbers, which could help him.

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, consider the front-runner in the race, voted today in Montclair with her husband and four children.

She went to run Essex County to me with voters this morning and spent the weekend traversing the state.

>> We did rallies, I went all over the state, spoke to as many people as possible at meet and greets and rallies in coffee shops, just to make sure I am in front of as many people as possible to hear from them and to talk about the vision I have for New Jersey, about driving costs down and making sure we are protected from the attacks from Washington.

Joanna: Sherrill says she has filter campaign by talking to as many people as she could about kitchen table issues.

>> Driving down utility costs, fixing our health care system.

Joanna: Stephen Fulop has pulled behind Sherrill, running a strong ground campaign in the final days of the race.

He voted today with his wife and young kids.

>> There is a huge number of votes that have come out so far that have been for me, meaning they are not regular voters either coming out against the federal government or change in New Jersey is one or the other.

Either of those things is good for us.

Joanna: The message he believes is coming the greatest support?

>> Transportation is a mess in New Jersey, whether it is the airport or the trains.

I think we have been so proactive in fixing it.

People are responding to it.

Joanna: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has had a ton of national attention in recent weeks after his arrest outside an immigration detention center.

Today we will tell whether that is impacted his support.

He voted in Newark with his family, who he kept away from the cameras then there is Josh Gottheimer, who has the backing of Morgan County and promises to lower taxes.

>> It is time to have a governor.

I'm going to fight every day for you.

We are going to bring it home a strong and make your life more affordable and fight Trump when he messes with Jersey, and we will bring it home for our great state, for our kids, our children, our seniors, our families.

Joanna: And then there is the sixth the Democratic candidate entered from Essex County, Sean Stiller, the head of the largest teachers union, who is hoping they turn out for him today.

A super PAC has come to visit to the record spending in the primary committee $5 million spent overall in --$85 million spent overall in ad buys.

But with this race still so close, the candidates now wait to see whether those dollars spent will get them the win.

For "NJ Spotlight News," I'm Joanna.

Briana: The county line is one major reason the contest exploded this year.

All 80 seats are up for grabs and Democratic incumbents are facing more challenges than Republicans.

One of the key races to watch is in the Democratic-heavy Hudson County, which covers Hoboken and northern Jersey City, with three separate Democratic slates.

One with the backing of gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop, one with an incumbent who has no party support, and another that is billing itself as the antiestablishment.

Is it possible as they could get broken up?

Ted Goldberg reports.

Ted: Miserable weather did not stop a similar candidates from last-minute campaigning.

>> Just keep running.

Make sure to vote.

>> how we doing?

New Jersey, come out and vote, baby.

Ted: Six Democratic candidates are running for two seats in the assembly.

One of them is this ugly woman Jessica Ramirez and Yusuf Saleh.

>> We don't need on-the-job training.

We are ready to fight for our constituents day one.

>> I've been getting them justice, doing trials.

I've been doing this on my life.

Ted: Saleh says voters want new leadership in Trenton.

Even though his leg future someone already in office.

>> I don't feel like I am part of the status quo.

>> They are tired of the status quo.

That is why we are running as Democrats for change.

Ted: They are also running as Democrats for change because Hudson County Democrat endorsed a different slate of candidates.

>>>> This is about returning the Democratic Party to its roots.

We are the underdog.

Ted: The county Dem-.

Sleep includes the director of street maintenance and the director of Hoboken's public library.

>> Library directors, we serve constituents every day in our work.

People trust librarians because we have been doing really good work for a long time.

Ted: She is also active in her local PTA and says her unique position gives her insight as to what her constituents want from their leaders.

>> Affordability, which comes onto the school funding formula, comes onto getting around town.

I take transit.

I'm a big biker.

Making sure we can move easily between areas within our towns.

Ted: The third slate for district 32 features big names in North Jersey politics.

Advocate for sexual assault victims and housing expert Katie Brennan and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla.

>> We are independent Democrats, so we don't respond -- we are not beholden to any party machine, any political boss.

>> Ravi and I take no money from the folks trying to expand the Turnpike in this neighborhood.

Ted: Brennan says folks around the district have similar concerns.

>> Housing, transit, Trump you hear a lot of.

And Turnpike.

Ted: Bhalla is running on his record of running one of New Jersey's most prominent cities.

>> And economic turnaround.

Our schools are getting better.

Community, quality-of-life great things to speak about.

Ted: One thing they can agree on, the loss of the county line on ballots could make this election anybody's ballgame .

>> It is a healthy thing for New Jersey and it gives people real options.

He does not slam the ballot towards one party or one person.

>> In the past he would have to get the blessings, like you go to the Pope, you get the blessings from each county chair.

Now it is a free-for-all.

Ted: Voters I spoke with were less concerned about the party line then issues that affect them personally.

>> Everything happening with cutting the arts budgets across federal and state, I really want to make sure that someone is in the office that is going to be there.

>> Housing is a major issue in Jersey City and I wanted to cast a ballot for somebody who's going to do something about making housing more affordable.

>> The issues that people care about in this district like any other district, but it is really just get out the vote.

Ted: He publishes "the Hudson County view" and says this race could be close, and two candidates from different slates could win.

>> I can't think of a time where we had a primary work challenger doesn't look like it is just going to get blown out of the water.

Ted: Considering how low-turnout primaries can be, get out the vote campaigns can make the difference in what is expected to be a tight race.

In Jersey City, I'm Ted Goldberg, "NJ Spotlight News."

Briana: If early voting numbers are any indication, this primary is going more interested than usual from voters, with close to 12% of registered Democratic and Republican voters having cast an early ballot.

An engaged electorate could make all the difference on the Democratic side, where candidates are likely to siphon votes from one another and give a true stress test to the new ballot design, which will prove just how key having the party machine used to get out the vote effort is to winning a tight race.

Raven Santana looks at the early count.

Raven: About 50 poll workers have been working tirelessly around the clock to strip, open, and prepare ballots for cap elation.

>> Election date is our Super Bowl.

All the preparation we do throughout the year.

A lot of people think election boards were twice year on election day, and there is a lot of perforation that goes into getting ready for today.

Raven: The Union County Board of elections administrator recently provided a guided tour showcasing the meticulous process of handling vote by mail ballots.

>> What I was expecting is not what we are seeing, and I don't know how much the weather plays into that.

We were expecting because of the crowded ballot on both the Republican and Democratic side that it really would have drummed up turnout.

But that doesn't seem to be the case.

Raven: According to the New Jersey division of elections, in New Jersey fewer than a quarter of registered Democrats and Republicans vote in a typical year.

Early voting numbers indicate that turnout could be higher than expected.

As of early Monday, close to 12% of registered Democratic and Republican voters.

>> I think with the number of gubernatorial candidate's, 11 for the Democrats and Republicans combined, there will be higher turnout than in 2021.

I think that it might become a close election in terms of votes.

Our vote by mails, more than half of them are still out.

That is more than 15,000.

Raven: The union County clerk has announced that the most significant change in this year's election is the redesign of the primary ballot.

>> the big difference is the ballot.

We have an office block ballot.

Candidates are categorized by the office they are voting for.

The voting public, this is the first time they are seeing it.

They did see it last year in the primary, but this is a gubernatorial race.

Personally I have received questions about how to vote this ballot.

Raven: Despite the pouring rain, voters I spoke with on 2nd Avenue shared their reasons for braving the weather to cast their ballot.

>> I'm from a very Hispanic-based community, and with everything going on at the moment, especially with the L.A. protests, it is important to make a stand can even if it seems insignificant.

I think it is important to be here today.

>> I don't want another Chris Christie.

Raven: Is that your biggest concern?

>> Yeah.

Raven: County officials emphasize you have until 8:00 p.m. to get in line your designated polling position.

Ballots have to be placed in the dropbox or handed off by it :00 p.m., and make sure they are postmarked by that time to be counted.

For "NJ Spotlight News," I'm Raven Santana.

Briana: Joining me in studio our senior political correspondent David Cruz and our senior writer Colleen O'Dea.

Good to see you both.

Thank for being here.

Feels like it has been a very long run up to this day.

David, what are you watching for tonight?

David: It feels like it has been a long time because it really has been.

We have been following this for almost two years, probably a little longer.

I'm looking at did voters suddenly realize that there is a big primary today?

I'm going to be looking at turnout and whether the weather has affected things.

We had rain early on.

Cleared up a bit in the afternoon.

There was a lot to look at the power of the parties, are they able to get the candidates through without the power of valid control --balance control-- ballot control?

I'm serious to see which of the Democrats is able to pull this out and why, because while there is a front-runner, I don't think she is a runaway front-runner.

Briana:Briana: And she doesn't need much.

David: It will be interesting to see if any of these candidates is able to break 30%.

There is a lot to watch.

This Emily races -- the 70 races of course will be interesting to watch.

Briana: Colleen, you have done a lot of reporting on early voting.

What if anything does that tell us?

Colleen: I wonder about her myself--I wonder about early turnout myself.

Today when I went to vote, and a lot of us have been talking about when we went about, I was thinking, well, how many people turned out?

At least early today not many is what we are hearing.

Did everyone vote early?

For the polls MD today -- were the po -polls empt today?

We have two runners, although on the Democratic side Mikie Sherrill does not have as big of an edge as we think Jack Ciattarelli has.

Briana: That matters going into November, two, getting momentum behind you.

In terms of those early voting numbers, are receiving more in the north versus the south --are we seeing more in the north versus the south, more Democrats and Republicans?

ColleenColleen: definitely more Democrats than Republicans.

Camden has always been a big vote by mail County, and they did not disappoint this time.

But Middlesex in terms of total early votes, vote by mail plus in person, as a couple thousand more Democrats.

Briana: Middlesex the party went for Sherrill.

Colleen: Could be telling us something even if without the party line, County line people are voting the way the party wants them to.

A big turnout in South Jersey.

Gloucester County had the highest percentage of Democrats registered who have voted early, and that is Steve Sweeney's County.

But there are not as many Democrats living in South Jersey.

Briana: That's a fair point.

David, what about the county line?

We have talked about this to great lengths, and now here we are, this stress test.

What should we expect tonight?

David: I think that will be one of the big prevailing questions, what was the impact of the lack of a partyline.

I think it will be significant.

I also think that we were talking about early voting.

The energy is so different in the Democratic primary that I am not sure that any county that put out a significant early vote, that that necessarily means it was a 40 vote -- party vote.

The energy is different, there's a lot of districts being challenged.

I want to see if we can at the end who got there vote out really, or did it split.

Briana: The fact that New Jersey is a bellwether, a lot of folks are looking to this phase, the governor's race in particular, to be a litmus test in the fall and heading into the midterms.

Very quickly, Colleen, are there other contested assembly races?

What can you tell us in a minute?

Democrats have a lot more challengers than Republicans.

Colleen: All three in Hudson County, two sequence in Bergen County -- two big ones in Bergen County Democrats have challenges, more than we usually see.

Briana: The party is fractured.

Does that mean they have to come together tomorrow?

Colleen: A lot of that is Steve Fulop in the race.

He figured he was not going to get party endorsement, he was going to have his own line.

Briana: Interesting to see how Hudson County plays.

Colleen, David, stick around all night if you will.

Thank you both.

That is going to do it for now.

You can download our podcast wherever you listen and watch as anytime by subscribing to the "NJ Spotlight News" YouTube channel.

Make sure you keep it right here for "NJ Decides 2025" primary election coverage tonight, starting at 8:00 p.m. with all the results.

We have reporters across the state at different campaign headquarters and in studio for political analysis.

Joining me will be David Cruz, Colleen O'Dea, and Ben Dworkin.

That is right here on NJPBS and on our YouTube channel and digital site.

I am Briana Vannozzi.For the entire team at "NJ Spotlight News," thanks for being with us.

Stick around.

Election coverage begins shortly.

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