In the Republican primary, former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is leading with 42% support among registered Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, while former radio host Bill Spadea trails with 12%.

In preparation for the primary, county clerks are mailing out 683,550 vote-by-mail ballots, with approximately 74% going to registered Democrats, highlighting a potential engagement gap among GOP voters.

The primary elections for both the Democratic and Republican parties in New Jersey are set for June 10, 2025, leading up to the general election on November 4, 2025.

As the election approaches, Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation exempting nursing mothers from jury duty, recognizing the challenges they face during early motherhood.

Recent polling shows that 26% of voters remain undecided as campaign spending intensifies, reflecting the competitive nature of the Democratic primary.

The Rutgers-Eagleton Poll, conducted between April 1 and April 10, surveyed 1,058 adults and has a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points.

Republican State Chairman Bob Hugin has demonstrated strong party support by contributing $250,000 to the Republican National Committee this year.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Mikie Sherrill leads with just 17% support, indicating a lack of consensus among voters, as other candidates like Steve Fulop and Sean Spiller follow closely behind.

The influence of a potential endorsement from former President Donald Trump is mixed among Republican voters, with 46% indicating it would increase their likelihood to vote for a candidate.

Voter turnout for the primary remains uncertain, with only 55% of voters indicating they are 'very likely' to participate, a concern given New Jersey's history of low primary turnout.

Ashley Koning from the Eagleton Center pointed out a distinct difference in the primary dynamics, noting that while Republicans have a clear frontrunner in Ciattarelli, Democrats are facing a more fragmented race.

Ciattarelli, who narrowly lost to Governor Murphy in 2021, is running for governor for the third time, seeking to secure the nomination ahead of the upcoming primary.