Democrat Congressman Launches Bid for New Jersey Governor

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) in Washington, in a file image. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) on Nov. 15 jumped into the New Jersey gubernatorial race, saying he will resist President-elect Donald Trump if elected.

“The election outcome was a horrible loss for America,” Gottheimer said in his announcement video. “Every candidate running for governor agrees, we need to stand up to Trump on the major issues from health care to the environment to gun safety. Every candidate shares the same goals, and on the issue of abortion right we will all stand up to Trump.”

Gottheimer said that other issues are also at the forefront for him, including lowering the cost of living.

Gottheimer said he'd accomplish that goal by reducing property and income taxes and convincing Trump to reinstate the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction for New Jersey, and he said he would “increase the availability and affordability of child care so parents can work and save for their family.”

“My greatest joy is as a husband and dad to my two kids, and as your governor, I want every family to do better,” he said. “You need a tax break, lower drug prices, safer communities, more affordable elder care and day care. Now, it won’t be easy, but I’ve never been afraid to buck conventional wisdom, to fight hard, to get things done, to clean things up and to stand up for Jersey and live up to our Jersey values.”

New Jersey, like many states in the November election, shifted rightward. But a majority of the state’s voters still chose Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, over Trump.

Incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy, 67, cannot run in 2025 because New Jersey’s Constitution limits governors to two consecutive terms. Murphy, a Democrat, won reelection in 2021.

Gottheimer, 49, is perhaps the highest-profile candidate to join the race to succeed Murphy, but he’s not alone. More than a dozen others are in the race. the Democrats include Steven Fulop, 47, Jersey City’s mayor; former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, age unknown; and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, 54.

Former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, 62; state Sen. Jon Bramnick, 71; and former state Sen. Ed Durr, 61, are among the Republicans vying for the governor’s seat.

A former speechwriter for President Bill Clinton, Gottheimer in Congress has positioned himself as a moderate, co-chairing the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. His ideology score, based on bills he’s sponsored or co-sponsored, is in the center, according to GovTrack.

Gottheimer represents New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District, which borders New York and has a population of about 781,000. He won reelection this month with 54.5 percent of the vote.