Democratic Congressman Announces Candidacy for Governor of New Jersey

November 16, 2024 TruthUSA

Gov. Phil Murphy will not be able to run in 2025 due to term limits.

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

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

Gottheimer emphasized that lowering the cost of living is also crucial for him.

He mentioned that he plans to achieve this by reducing property and income taxes, convincing Trump to reinstate the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction for New Jersey, and by “increasing 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 affirmed. “You need a tax break, lower drug prices, safer communities, more affordable elder care and day care. 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. However, a majority of the state’s voters still chose Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, over Trump.

Incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy, 67, is ineligible to run in 2025 as New Jersey’s Constitution restricts governors to two consecutive terms. Murphy, a Democrat, won reelection in 2021.

Gottheimer, 49, is a notable candidate in the race to succeed Murphy, but he faces more than a dozen other contenders. Among the Democrats are Steven Fulop, 47, mayor of Jersey City; former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, whose age is 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 some of the Republicans vying for the governor’s seat.

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

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

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