One candidate got arrested and then sued an ally of President Donald Trump in response. Another ran an ad depicting a shirtless AI image of him fighting Trump in a boxing ring. A third has faced attacks over past campaign donations from a PAC linked to Trump’s onetime “first buddy,” Elon Musk.
Such is this year’s Democratic primary for New Jersey’s open governorship: a six-way race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy a year after the Garden State shifted 10 points to the right in the most recent presidential election.
Tuesday’s primary represents one of the biggest tests for Democrats as they look to reset after a disappointing 2024 for the party. The November general election will be closely watched as a potential barometer of how voters feel about the new Trump administration and full Republican control of Washington.
