Table of Contents
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U.S. Senate
U.S. House
Governor
Statewide Executive
State Legislative
Historic
Toplines
- Current U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D) has won the Democratic nomination for governor of New Jersey. If successful in November, she will be the second woman and first Democratic woman to serve as governor of New Jersey.
- There are two gubernatorial elections in 2025, in New Jersey and Virginia. A new woman governor is all but assured in Virginia’s all-woman contest. If Sherrill is also successful, the number of women governors could reach 14 by January 2026, matching the record high set briefly in January 2025.
- Women are 55 of 151 (36.4%) major-party nominees already selected for state Assembly in New Jersey, including 34 of 76 (44.7%) Democrats and 21 of 75 (28.0%) Republicans. This is not a record high.
- 27 (21D, 6R) of 31 (25D, 6R) current state assemblywomen are nominees for re-election in November 2025.
- One woman incumbent, Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D), did not run for re-election, 1 (1D) incumbent woman has lost her bid for reelection, and 2 (2D) incumbent assemblywomen are in races that are too close to call.
New Jersey
1 (1D)
55 (34D, 21R)
Governor
Women Nominees in 2025: Based on primary election results, women are 1 of 2 (50%) major-party nominees for Governor of New Jersey. New Jersey’s gubernatorial nominees choose their nominee for lieutenant governor after the primary election and they are elected on a shared ticket in November.
|
Woman Nominee |
Party |
Seat Status |
Race/Ethnicity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mikie Sherrill |
D |
Open |
White |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 1 of 2 (50.0%) statewide elective executive offices in New Jersey. Four (2D, 2R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in New Jersey, including 1 (1R) woman who has served as governor: Christine Todd Whitman (1994-2001).
Women Candidates in 2025: One (1D) woman filed as a candidate for governor in New Jersey in 2025. This matches the current record. She was 1 of 11 (9.1%) total major-party candidates for governor in 2025.
Milestones to Watch in 2025:
- If successful in November Mikie Sherrill will be the first Democratic woman governor of New Jersey.
- There are two gubernatorial elections in 2025, in New Jersey and Virginia. A new woman governor is all but assured in Virginia’s all-woman contest. If Sherrill is also successful, the number of women governors could reach 14 by January 2026, matching the record high set briefly in January 2025.
State Senate
There are no regularly-scheduled state Senate elections in New Jersey in 2025. There are no women candidates in the special election being held in SD-35
State Assembly
Women Nominees in 2025: Based on primary election results, women are 55 of 151 (36.4%) major-party nominees already selected for state Assembly in New Jersey, including 34 of 76 (44.7%) Democrats and 21 of 75 (28.0%) Republicans. Seven (7D) woman candidates are in races that are too close to call.
- 27 (21D, 6R) women incumbents are nominees for re-election. Incumbent Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D) is the only woman incumbent who did not run for re-election.
- 25 (11D, 14R) women have won nominations to challenge incumbents in November.
- 3 (2D, 1R) women have won nominations for open-seat state Assembly contests.
The number of women state Assembly nominees falls short of the record high (65), set in election 2021. This year, 10 (9D, 1R) women candidates for state Assembly were unsuccessful, including one incumbent (Garnet Hall-D).
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 31 (25D, 6R) of 80 seats in the New Jersey State Assembly.
Women Candidates in 2025: Seventy-two (50D, 22R) women filed as candidates for state Assembly in 2025. They were 72 of 202 (35.6%) total major-party candidates for state Assembly in 2025. All Assembly seats are up for election this year.
For full information about women in the 2025 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, see CAWP’s Election Watch.