Map helps us see how Mikie Sherrill defeated Jack Ciattarelli
Mikie Sherrill managed to reverse the political trend that suggested New Jersey was leaning Republican. Before Election Day, many analysts viewed the state as shifting from firmly Democratic to more politically mixed. However, her performance reshaped that narrative.
Context of the 2024 Shift
During President Donald Trump's 2024 victory, New Jersey appeared to turn slightly redder. Trump lost to Vice President Kamala Harris by only six percentage points, compared with a sixteen-point gap in 2020 when former President Joe Biden was on the ballot. This tighter margin surprised many observers.
Republican confidence further grew after Jack Ciattarelli’s strong showing against Governor Phil Murphy in 2021, where he lost by just three points. That near win hinted that the GOP might gain traction in the Garden State.
Sherrill’s Decisive Victory
Contrary to expectations, Sherrill stopped the Republican momentum. She defeated Ciattarelli by thirteen points statewide, effectively halting the GOP’s emerging hopes. A detailed electoral map provides insight into how she achieved such a result.
Three Roads to Victory
- Sherrill reclaimed five counties Donald Trump had captured in 2024 — Morris and Passaic in North Jersey, along with Atlantic, Cumberland, and Gloucester in South Jersey.
- The flips were largely credited to strong Democratic turnout across urban and suburban areas.
- New Jersey’s voter registration advantage played a major role, as Democrats outnumber Republicans by approximately 900,000 voters.
“Some attribute that to sheer Democratic numbers — there are 900,000 more of them than Republicans.”
Author’s summary: Mikie Sherrill’s 2025 victory reaffirmed Democratic strength in New Jersey, reversing short-term Republican gains and proving the state remains fundamentally blue.