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VOTE411 Voter Guide

New Jersey Governor

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    Ras J. Baraka
    (Dem)

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    Justin Barbera
    (Rep)

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    Jon Bramnick
    (Rep)

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    Jack Ciattarelli
    (Rep)

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    Steven Fulop
    (Dem)

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    Josh Gottheimer
    (Dem)

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    Mario M. Kranjac
    (Rep)

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    Mikie Sherrill
    (Dem)

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    Bill Spadea
    (Rep)

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    Sean Spiller
    (Dem)

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    Steve Sweeney
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

What are the most pressing challenges facing New Jersey in 2025, and how do you propose to address them?

What reforms do you support to improve New Jersey’s democracy?

How do you plan to strengthen and support New Jersey’s economy?

What steps, if any, will you take to ensure equitable funding and support for public education?

What immigration policies do you support?

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Campaign Email Info@stevenfulop.com
Facebook Page Steven Fulop
Twitter Steven Fulop
Website Stevenfulop.com
New Jersey is facing several urgent challenges, but affordability, housing, and transit are at the core. I have outlined the most comprehensive plans to address these issues of any candidate in the race, available at www.stevenfulop.com. This campaign must be more than platitudes and soundbites. These challenges are complex, and our campaign offers the most detailed roadmap forward. I encourage voters to compare our vision with others by reviewing our plans online.
First, I support implementing Ranked Choice Voting and have been a leader on that issue. Second, we must restore the OPRA law to its previous form to promote transparency and public access to government records. Third, I will work to roll back the recent election transparency law that opened the door to more money in politics. Lastly, I support term limits for the legislature and propose banning county leaders from lobbying in Trenton while in office.
A strong and fair economy requires smart investments in people and infrastructure, along with a tax system that works for everyone. I will restructure tax brackets to fund education and transit without burdening those least able to pay. I will expand job training in clean energy and advanced manufacturing and implement real changes in higher education affordability. I will also cut red tape and increase access to capital for small businesses. Our economy works best when opportunity exists across the state.
Every student deserves access to quality public education, regardless of where they live. That starts with updating the funding formula to reflect student needs. We must also restructure special education funding to better serve families and reduce property taxes. We need to invest in school facilities, fair teacher pay, early childhood education, and historically underserved communities. Our detailed plans also address affordability in both higher education and early childhood care.
As the son of immigrants, I have firsthand experience with these issues. I created a municipal Office of Immigrant Affairs and led refugee resettlement programs for families from Ukraine and Afghanistan. I support the Immigrant Trust Act to ensure local law enforcement focuses on public safety, not federal immigration enforcement. This builds trust between communities and police. I will also advocate for federal immigration reform and a fair path to citizenship while protecting the due process rights of all.
Campaign Email info@josh4jersey.com
Campaign phone ‪(201) 690-7226‬
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/josh4jersey
Twitter https://x.com/josh4jersey
Website https://josh4jersey.com/
Jersey is just too expensive. Everywhere I go, from diners to grocery stores, people tell me they can’t afford to stay here after graduation, raise a family here, start a business here, retire here. With the highest property taxes in the nation, we are now the number one out-migration state in the country. I’m running to be Jersey’s “Lower Taxes, Lower Costs” Governor. I will cut property taxes by nearly 15%, give renters an annual rent rebate, lower state income taxes for families and seniors, nearly double the Child Tax Credit, take an All-of-the-Above approach to lower utility bills, and incentivize people and jobs to come to Jersey. This will help grow our economy and make life more affordable for families. You can read my full plan to lower taxes and lower costs at Josh4Jersey.com. I will also fight the Trump Administration if and when they mess with Jersey families and values.
Voting is at the very bedrock of our democracy and we need to be increasing access to the ballot, not restricting it. In Washington, I have fought to protect voting rights from extremists and I will do the same in Trenton. As your Governor, I will implement same day voter registration, expand in-person early voting, introduce universal mail-in voting, expand automatic voter registration, and implement a mobile voting pilot. Voting should be as inclusive and accessible as possible. These reforms will help expand and protect our democracy.
Too many people are leaving Jersey because it’s too expensive. I will be laser-focused on growing our state’s economy and lowering costs so people can continue to raise their families and retire in our great state. I’m the only candidate with a plan to lower taxes and costs for families. My “Tax Cut Plan” cuts property taxes by nearly 15%, gives renters a tax cut, reduces middle-class income taxes, gives seniors a bonus to retire in Jersey, incentivizes families to move to and stay in Jersey, and provides a tax credit for every new job businesses bring to our state. We can make these tax cuts, meet our pension obligations, and protect the services Jersey families rely on. We also need to build more housing that’s affordable near mass transit and we should utilize abandoned office parks. I will look for ways to speed up the development process, cut red tape that’s holding up new construction, and find new, innovative models of home ownership and financing to help families and seniors.
The research is clear: if we aren’t making investments in our children’s education by kindergarten, it’s hard to ever catch up. As Governor, I will ensure every child has access to Universal Pre-K. I also will fully fund full-day kindergarten for every child, and implement a wide range of actions to make high-quality child care more affordable for every Jersey family. It’s also critical that every child no matter where they live gets a shot at a top-notch education.
I strongly support the Attorney General’s current Immigrant Trust Directive. I believe in tough borders and public safety. But, the Trump Administration’s directive to round up innocent immigrants at places like churches, schools, and restaurants is unacceptable. As Governor, I’ll do everything in my power to fight back against illegal mass raids and roundups of innocent people. Moreover, I’ll make it clear to Trump that Jersey is going to govern how Jersey wants, not as he decrees.
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Campaign Email info@mikiesherrill.com
Campaign phone (973) 348-5434
Campaign Address Mikie Sherrill for Governor, PO Box 43032, Montclair, NJ 07043
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/MikieSherrillForNewJersey
Twitter @mikiesherrill
Website www.mikiesherrill.com
Affordability is a top priority for my campaign – I rolled out an Affordability Agenda to outline my plan to make sure everyone can get ahead and afford to live in New Jersey. We can’t make NJ more affordable unless we make housing more affordable. I’ve proposed converting unused commercial space into housing; we can also remediate brownfields to build more housing units. To bring tax relief to middle-class families, I’ll work to unlock the potential of shared services for municipalities and expand New Jersey’s Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. I want to drive down health care costs, including an independent audit of the State Health Benefits Program. I will also prioritize and support low-cost, in-state clean energy investments and innovations – like solar – to bring down utility rates for families by increasing in-state power generation and expanding capacity. And with the chaos coming from Washington, I will stand in the breach and take the fight to Trump and Musk.
I am committed to protecting our democracy and expanding voting rights in New Jersey. Every New Jerseyan deserves to have their voice heard, and we need to make it as easy as possible to cast your ballot. I strongly support implementing same-day voter registration and expanding the number of early voting sites in each county so that voters have as many options as possible to vote. New Jersey voters deserve fair and transparent elections, which is why I advocated for and supported office block ballots. Voters deserve fair ballots that are clear and avoid confusion.

We also need more transparency and accountability in government. OPRA was created to hold elected officials accountable. It helped to expose abuses at our veterans homes during COVID, and after reporting, I led federal legislation for pandemic preparedness. I was opposed to the OPRA rollbacks because it made our government less transparent and as governor, I will work with legislators and stakeholders to improve transparency
I’m committed to making New Jersey the most innovative and competitive economy in the nation. I will develop a comprehensive strategy, working with key industries, institutions of higher education, and labor leaders, to fix permitting and invest in innovation to create jobs and new businesses. I will make it easier to start a business by directing the Business Action Center to take on a stronger role to support entrepreneurs and small business owners. And I will streamline and increase transparency within the state agency approval and permitting process to reduce costs and delays that are holding our economy back.

It’s crucial that everyone in New Jersey has a fair shot and the opportunity to succeed, but we continue to see large disparities in educational and economic opportunities. I will make key investments in our public schools and workforce system, in proven programs like high-impact tutoring and Registered Apprenticeships, to give all New Jerseyans real economic opportunities.
New Jersey has one of the top-rated school systems in America and that is a testament to the resources we have dedicated to ensuring all students have a fair shot at success. I believe we need to modernize the school funding formula to reflect what an education should look like today, where we are meeting the latest standards and best practices, and helping students overcome challenges like learning loss and mental health. The bulk of the current formula was written in 2008 and needs to be updated. For example, we need to ensure the school funding formula takes into account districts that have a higher percentage of students with special needs. We also need to address some of the wild fluctuations and severe cuts we are seeing year to year now that we are actually fully funding and administering the formula - this can happen to any district and it can be very disruptive to school operations, staffing levels, and the quality of education a student receives year to year.
From the U.S. Attorney’s Office to Congress, I have worked to build trust between communities and law enforcement. With the chaos coming from the Trump administration, I’ll be a governor who defends our constitutional protections and the law-abiding residents of this state. Moreover, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make our state a welcoming place to live, as immigration helps our communities thrive and drives our incredible innovation economy. I support policies to ensure all New Jersey students have the opportunity to attend our state’s world-class universities, pay in-state tuition, and afford their college education. I support robust access to legal counsel and public safety efforts to ensure that all New Jersey drivers are qualified to operate a motor vehicle on the roadways. I support New Jersey’s Office of New Americans and the work it does to serve residents of our state, whether it’s finding employment, child care, legal representation, or state program information.
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Campaign Email info@spillerfornj.com
Facebook Page @spillerfornj
Twitter @spillerfornj
Website seanspiller.com
New Jersey’s central challenge is affordability. Most families struggle to make ends meet because prices have soared while wages and benefits have remained stagnant or declined. Costs have skyrocketed while corporations experience record profits year after year. As Governor, I will take an all-inclusive approach to solving New Jersey’s affordability crisis by addressing root causes of price hikes and providing direct relief through investments in our education and healthcare systems, public transportation, energy grid, and more. I will not let Trump and Musk impede this vision for an affordable New Jersey by cutting taxes for the wealthiest individuals and corporations. The current administration has demonstrated its willingness to weaponize power to destroy the institutions that make us a beacon for freedom and justice globally. My priority will always be to protect our state and restore its reputation as the best place to live, work, and raise a family.
Corporations and political elites have enjoyed outsized power in New Jersey for decades. This is a fundamental democratic issue, and I support reforms to open up our elections, reduce barriers to entry, and challenge party bosses to protect the interests of all New Jerseyans. I will prioritize removing the privileged money class from outsized influence, strengthening transparency and reporting, and putting an end to dark money-fueled campaigns. These, along with other reforms to our elections and transparency laws, will strengthen our democracy. In particular, I support same-day voter registration and abolishing the ballot line, both of which will make our elections more accessible and fair. As political attacks on election officials continue across the country, it is a priority of mine to ensure that New Jersey stands strong in the face of democratic backsliding.
New Jersey has the opportunity to become an economic powerhouse over the next ten years, starting with our transition to a clean energy economy. I would encourage cost-saving clean energy solutions across our state, both at the grid and individual levels. Of course, this includes providing the support necessary for NJ Transit, a cornerstone of our state’s infrastructure and economy. We must support the tens of thousands of small businesses that call New Jersey home by making large multinational corporations pay their fair share for the revenue they earn here. I support increasing the minimum wage incrementally over the next few years so that businesses can attract and retain hard-working employees, stimulating our middle and working classes and ensuring they are paid what they are worth. Above all, I will take an all-inclusive approach to governance that centers communities, not corporations, in decisions about economic development in our state.
With the future of the federal Department of Education in jeopardy, we must be prepared to protect the right to learn for all New Jersey students, regardless of socioeconomic background. We can anticipate this administration to withhold federal funding to exert control and influence over curricula. As Governor, I will fight to keep every dollar the federal government has pledged to provide our state. We will also revisit the funding formula and seek opportunities to attract and retain teachers. As the President deprives our residents of the crucial support our schools need so that the ultra wealthy receive tax cuts, we will initiate tax fairness programs in New Jersey to secure the revenue we need to keep our students in school and make up for pandemic-related learning losses.
As an immigrant myself, I live through the fears so many New Jerseyans are feeling right now. Even in something as routine as a traffic stop, many immigrants fear escalation and involvement of immigration enforcement officials. If not done already, I would streamline passage of the Immigration Trust Act to ensure clear separations between federal, state, and local law enforcement. We must empower families to pursue justice, ask for help, and interact with the legal system. Continued funding for the Defense and Deportation Initiative is also paramount. In addition to defensive actions like these, a priority of my administration will be fighting tooth and nail against Donald Trump’s assault on immigrant rights. This includes using the full power of the Attorney General to litigate against I.C.E. encroachment in our state. My senior administration officials will be ready to fight back against the current President’s policies so that our immigrant communities can live free from fear.
Campaign Address PO Box 364 Wenonah, NJ 08090
Facebook Page stevesweeneyforgovernor
Twitter SteveSweeney_NJ
Website https://www.stevesweeneyforgovernor.com/
The greatest challenge facing New Jersey families today is affordability. Skyrocketing property taxes, housing prices, energy, and healthcare costs are forcing too many of our residents, especially seniors and young families, to make painful choices or even leave our state. To address this urgent issue, I will expand the Senior Freeze program to help retirees manage rising property taxes and allow seniors to retain their property tax credits if they move within the state or into smaller homes or apartments, which will also help free up more housing for younger families.

New Jersey’s housing crisis requires bold action. My administration will build new housing units statewide, reduce bureaucratic red tape that slows housing development, and enhance down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Ensuring families can achieve the dream of homeownership will help stabilize communities and create economic growth across our state.
For democracy to flourish, our government must be transparent, efficient, and responsive to its citizens. I support comprehensive regionalization and shared-service agreements among municipalities and school districts to reduce government duplication and waste. These efforts can save taxpayers billions of dollars, enhancing efficiency without sacrificing essential services.

Transparency and accountability are paramount. My administration will engage in asset optimization, carefully managing public resources to reduce costs and reliance on taxes. We'll negotiate better healthcare plans for public employees that will significantly lower expenses both for taxpayers and workers, ensuring public funds directly support critical community needs.

Democracy thrives when every voice can be heard, and my administration will make certain all New Jerseyans can fully engage with their government.
New Jersey’s economic strength begins with empowering working families, seniors, and small businesses. My economic approach is founded on pragmatism: no new taxes and smarter government spending. By improving efficiency within government operations, optimizing public assets, and negotiating cost-effective healthcare solutions, we will reduce expenses and pass these savings onto taxpayers.

Our commitment to sustainable and affordable energy directly supports economic stability. By adopting an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy — including nuclear, hydrogen, offshore wind, and responsibly managed natural gas— we will generate thousands of quality jobs while keeping energy costs low for families and businesses.

Throughout my career, I have focused on practical solutions that deliver real results for working people. As Governor, I will continue fighting tirelessly to create a more affordable, prosperous, and inclusive New Jersey.
I would ensure that the state fully covers the cost of Extraordinary Special Education. For too long, students with special needs and their families have been treated as burdens to school districts, with their needs often overlooked. At the same time, I recognize the financial strain these costs place on school districts, which is why full state funding is essential.

Furthermore, I have fought tirelessly to ensure that the school funding formula is not only fully funded, but also distributed equitably. After decades of underfunding and unfair distribution, New Jersey is now fully funding all school districts. However, districts continue to struggle with unpredictable shifts in state aid. We need a more transparent and reliable approach to ensure schools have the stability to plan for their future. I remain committed to securing equitable, full funding for all students—because every child deserves the resources they need to succeed.
Our state has long been a gateway for immigrants who have helped shape our history and economy. From pharmaceuticals and technology to tourism and agriculture, immigrants are a vital part of our workforce and our prosperity. However, I oppose the Immigrant Trust Directives and the corresponding legislation because they create false hope. The reality is that the state government cannot prevent the federal government from enforcing immigration laws. Moreover, experience has shown that coordination among law enforcement agencies leads to better outcomes for everyone. I also oppose these measures because enforcing federal laws is essential to keeping our communities safe. If violent gangs and drug traffickers operate in our state and federal authorities seek to apprehend them, they should be able to do so. That said, I will never support warrantless arrests, prosecution, or deportation without due process. No one is above the law—not law enforcement, not the Governor, and not the President