# 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election

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The 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the governor of New Jersey. Incumbent governor Phil Murphy was first elected in 2017 with 56% of the vote and won re-election to a second term. Murphy and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, defeated the Republican ticket of Jack Ciattarelli and Diane Allen, 51.2% to 48%.
Murphy formally announced his intention to run for a second term on October 1, 2020. Primaries were held on June 8, 2021. Murphy, who won the Democratic nomination unopposed after his two primary challengers were disqualified, faced Ciattarelli, Green nominee Madelyn Hoffman, Libertarian nominee Gregg Mele, and Socialist Workers Party nominee Joanne Kuniansky in the general election. The race was considered by many media outlets to be a "safe" or "likely" Democratic hold, as Murphy had led a majority of pre-election polls by double digits. However, Murphy defeated Ciattarelli by a much smaller margin than expected.
Murphy is the first Democratic governor of New Jersey to win re-election since Brendan Byrne in 1977, as well as the first candidate of the same party as the incumbent U.S. president to win since Thomas Kean in 1985. This is also the first New Jersey gubernatorial election since 2009 where both the Democratic and Republican nominees received more than one million votes each. It also was the first New Jersey gubernatorial election where the Green Party candidate placed third. Murphy also became the first Democrat to win a New Jersey gubernatorial election without carrying Gloucester and Cumberland Counties since Robert B. Meyner in 1953, and the first Democrat to win a gubernatorial election without carrying Atlantic County since Richard J. Hughes in 1961.
Atlantic County voted for the losing candidate for the first time since 1993. Also, this was the first New Jersey gubernatorial election in which Somerset County voted more Democratic than the state as a whole since 1910. Murphy became the first New Jersey Governor since Brendan Byrne to win both of his elections with a majority of the vote each time. It was the first single-digit Democratic win in a governor's election since 1961. Murphy received the most votes for a Democrat or any governor since 1989, and Ciattarelli received the most for a Republican since 2013. Despite failing to flip the state, Ciattarelli swung the state more Republican from the 2020 presidential election than Glenn Youngkin, the Republican candidate for the concurrent Virginia gubernatorial election, did in his respective state even as he managed to flip the governorship.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Phil Murphy, incumbent governor (2018–present)

#### Disqualified

* Roger Bacon, perennial candidate
* Lisa McCormick, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018

#### Declined

* Jamel Holley, state assemblyman from the 20th district (ran for State Senate)
* Stephen M. Sweeney, President of the New Jersey Senate (running for re-election)

### Fundraising

Primary campaign finance activity through June 28, 2021 :
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Phil Murphy | $7,966,075 | $7,752,229 | $213,846 |
| Source: New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission ||||

### Lieutenant Governor nomination
#### Nominee

* Sheila Oliver, incumbent Lieutenant Governor (2018–2023)

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Phil Murphy (incumbent) | 382,984 | 100.0% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 382,984 | 100.0% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Jack Ciattarelli, former member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 16th district (2011–2018) and candidate for governor in 2017

#### Eliminated in primary

* Brian Levine, former Somerset County commissioner (2014–2020), former mayor of Franklin Township, Somerset County (2004–2014) and candidate for governor in 2009
* Phil Rizzo, pastor
* Hirsh Singh, businessman, engineer, and perennial candidate

#### Withdrew

* Joseph Rudy Rullo, businessman, actor and perennial candidate (endorsed Hirsh Singh)
* Doug Steinhardt, chair of the Warren County Republican Committee (2004–present), former mayor of Lopatcong (1999–2014) and former Chair of the New Jersey Republican State Committee (2017–2020)
* Joseph Vicari, Ocean County commissioner

#### Declined

* Jon Bramnick, minority leader of the New Jersey General Assembly (running for State Senate)
* Chris Christie, former governor of New Jersey (2010–2018)
* Joe Kyrillos, former state senator and assemblyman from the 13th district, Republican nominee for New Jersey's 6th congressional district in 1992, and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2012
* Rik Mehta, pharmaceutical executive, attorney, and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020 (running for NJ-07 in 2022) (endorsed Jack Ciattarelli)
* Holly Schepisi, state assemblywoman (2012–2021) and senator (2021–present) from the 39th district (running for State Senate) (endorsed Jack Ciattarelli)

### Fundraising

Primary campaign finance activity through June 28, 2021 :
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Jack Ciattarelli | $7,125,870 | $7,045,692 | $69,178 |
| Brian Levine | <$5,800 | <$5,800 | <$5,800 |
| Phil Rizzo | $678,619 | $655,282 | $23,337 |
| Hirsh Singh | $616,398 | $615,931 | $468 |
| Doug Steinhardt (withdrew) | $248,345 | $221,819 | $26,527 |
| Source: New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission ||||

### Endorsements

Individuals
* Joseph Rudy Rullo, businessman, actor, and perennial candidate
State Legislators
* Serena DiMaso, state assemblywoman from the 13th district (2018–present)
Individuals
* Kimberly Klacik, Republican nominee for Maryland's 7th congressional district in the April 2020 special election and the November 2020 general election
* Bill Spadea, New Jersey 101.5 radio personality and Republican nominee for New Jersey's 12th congressional district in 2004

### Lieutenant Governor nomination
#### Nominee

* Diane Allen, former state senator from the 7th district (1998–2018) and candidate for US Senate in 2002

#### Potential candidates not selected

* Holly Schepisi, state assemblywoman (2012–2021) and senator (2021–present) from the 39th district
On May 4, 2021, the New Jersey Globe published a list of nine potential candidates for lieutenant governor after speaking with "more than two dozen Republican leaders, strategists and activists." Diane Allen (who was selected as Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli's running mate) was one of the names on this list. The others were:
* Kristin Corrado, state senator from the 40th district (2017–present), chair of the New Jersey Senate Republican Conference (2019–present)
* Antony Ghee, candidate for New Jersey's 11th congressional district in 2018, hedge fund manager, and U.S. Army JAG captain
* Christine Hanlon, Monmouth County Clerk (2015–present)
* Barbara Kim-Hagemann, New Jersey VFW State Commander
* Nancy Munoz, state assemblywoman from the 21st district (2009–present)
* Laura Overdeck, businesswoman and philanthropist (founder and president of Bedtime Math and co-founder of the Women for a Stronger New Jersey Super-PAC)
* Ryan Peters, state assemblyman from the 8th district (2018–present) (will not be running for re-election to the State Assembly)
* Michele Siekerka, President & CEO of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (2014–present) and former New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner (2010–2014) in the Christie administration

### Debates

2021 New Jersey Republican gubernatorial primary debates :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants |
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | | | | |
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Jack Ciattarelli | Brian Levine | Phil Rizzo | Hirsh Singh |
| 1 | May 25, 2021 | WKXW | Eric Scott | | P | N | N | P |
A second debate on NJ PBS featuring Ciattarelli and Singh and moderated by NJ Spotlight News reporters Briana Vannozzi, Colleen O'Dea, and David Cruz was planned for May 26, 2021, but later cancelled on May 24, 2021, after Singh announced that he would decline to participate.

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jack Ciattarelli | Brian Levine | Phil Rizzo | Hirsh Singh | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | May 24–25, 2021 | 591 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 29% | 2% | 8% | 23% | 38% |
| Brad Parscale (R) | April 16–21, 2021 | >1200 (LV) | ± 3% | 20% | 3% | 10% | 22% | — |

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack Ciattarelli | 167,690 | 49.46% |
| | Republican | Philip Rizzo | 87,007 | 25.66% |
| | Republican | Hirsh V. Singh | 73,155 | 21.58% |
| | Republican | Brian D. Levine | 11,181 | 3.30% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 339,033 | 100.0% |

## General election

Five candidates appeared on the general election ballot, the lowest number of candidates for a New Jersey gubernatorial election since 1953, which also featured five.

### Candidates

* Phil Murphy (Democratic), incumbent governor (2018–present)
** Running mate: Sheila Oliver, lieutenant governor (2018–2023)
* Jack Ciattarelli (Republican), former state assemblyman from the 16th district (2011–2018) and candidate for governor in 2017
** Running mate: Diane Allen, former state senator from the 7th district (1998–2018)
* Gregg Mele (Libertarian), activist, lawyer, and candidate for New Jersey's 7th congressional district in 2018
** Running mate: Eveline Brownstein, activist and professor
* Madelyn R. Hoffman (Green), environmental activist, professor, and candidate for governor in 1997 and U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020
** Running mate: Heather Warburton, activist and talk show host
* Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers), retail worker
** Running mate: Vivian Sahner, militant author

#### Withdrew

* Ed Forchion (Legalize Marijuana), cannabis rights activist and perennial candidate
* Justin Maldonado
* David Winkler

### Fundraising

General election campaign finance activity through November 19, 2021 :
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Phil Murphy | $16,747,434 | $16,393,069 | $354,365 |
| Jack Ciattarelli | $16,361,174 | $15,828,691 | $532,483 |
| Gregg Mele | $6,000 | <$5,800 | N/A |
| Madelyn Hoffman | $1,874 | <$5,800 | <$5,800 |
| Joanne Kuniansky | <$5,800 | <$5,800 | <$5,800 |
| Source: New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission ||||

### Debates

Although New Jersey State Law gives until September 1, 2021, for independent gubernatorial candidates to fundraise $490,000 to qualify for the debates, the invitees of the first debate were definitively stated at around July 20, 2021, which was over a month before the deadline. Despite the third-party candidates being ineligible to debate in any debates that were sponsored by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, the New Jersey Globe held another debate for third-party lieutenant governor candidates on October 11, 2021.
2021 New Jersey gubernatorial debates :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Republican | Libertarian | Green | Socialist Workers |
| P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Phil Murphy | Jack Ciattarelli | Gregg Mele | Madelyn Hoffman | Joanne Kuniansky |
| 1 | September 28, 2021 | NJPAC | Sade Baderinwa Brian Taff | | P | P | N | N | N |
| 2 | October 12, 2021 | NJ PBS | Briana Vannozzi | | P | P | N | N | N |
2021 New Jersey Lieutenant Governor debates :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Republican | Libertarian | Green | Socialist Workers |
| P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Sheila Oliver | Diane Allen | Eveline Brownstein | Heather Warburton | Vivian Sahner |
| 1 | October 5, 2021 | New Jersey Globe | David Wildstein Shenell McCloud Micah Rasmussen | | P | P | N | N | N |
| 2 | October 11, 2021 | New Jersey Globe | Joey Fox | | N | N | P | P | W |

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Solid D | October 5, 2021 |
| Inside Elections | Solid D | November 1, 2021 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely D | November 1, 2021 |

### Endorsements

Executive branch officials
* Joe Biden, President of the United States (2021–2025)
* Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (2021–2025)
* Barack Obama, former President of the United States (2009–2017)
* Kal Penn, former Principal Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement (2009–2011)
U.S. Senators
* Cory Booker, U.S. Senator from New Jersey (2013–present)
* Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator from Minnesota (2007–present)
* Bob Menendez, U.S. Senator from New Jersey (2006–2024)
* Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator from Vermont (2007–present)
U.S. Representatives
* Jim Clyburn, U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 6th congressional district (1993–present) and House Minority Whip (2011-2019; 2023–present)
* Bonnie Watson Coleman, U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 12th congressional district (2015–present)
* Gabby Giffords, former U.S. Representative for Arizona's 8th congressional district (2007–2012)
* Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 5th congressional district (2017–present)
* Andy Kim, U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 3rd congressional district (2019–2025)
* Donald Norcross, U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 1st congressional district (2014–present)
* Frank Pallone, U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 6th congressional district (1993–present)
* Bill Pascrell, U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 9th congressional district (2013–2024)
* Donald Payne Jr., U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 10th congressional district (2012–present)
* Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 11th congressional district (2019–present)
* Albio Sires, U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 8th congressional district (2013–present)
State legislators
* Craig Coughlin, state assemblyman from the 19th district (2010–present) and Speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly (2019–present)
* Vin Gopal, state senator from the 11th district (2018–present)
* Teresa Ruiz, state senator from the 29th district (2008–present) and President pro tempore of the New Jersey Senate (2018–present)
* Loretta Weinberg, state senator from the 37th district (2005–present) and majority leader of the New Jersey State Senate (2012–present)
County executives
* Thomas DeGise, Hudson County Executive (2002–present)
* Joseph DiVincenzo, Essex County Executive (2003–present)
Local officials
* Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark, New Jersey (2014–present)
* Ravinder Bhalla, mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey (2018–present)
* Steven Fulop, mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey (2013–present)
* Susan Knudsen, mayor of Ridgewood, New Jersey (Republican)
* Anthony Vaz, mayor of Seaside Heights, New Jersey (2015–present) (Republican)
Individuals
* Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States (2021–present)
* Doug Emhoff, Second Gentleman of the United States (2021–present)
* Brian Fallon, musician
* Fred Guttenberg, activist
* Jon Bon Jovi, singer-songwriter
* John Rzeznik, musician
Organizations
* AAPI Victory Fund
* Make the Road Action
* Moms Demand Action
* New Jersey Coalition of Latino Pastors and Ministers
* New Jersey League of Conservation Voters
* Working Families Party
* Garden State Equality
* Sierra Club
Labor unions
* Health Professionals and Allied Employees
* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers New Jersey State Electrical Workers Association Construction division
* International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers
* International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825
* Jersey City Police Benevolent Association
* Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
* UH Local 54
* UFCW
Newspapers
* Asbury Park Press
* Courier News
* Daily Record
* Home News Tribune
* New Jersey Herald
* New York Daily News
* The Philadelphia Inquirer
* The Record
* The Star-Ledger
Executive branch officials
* Nikki Haley, former Governor of South Carolina (2011–2017) and United States ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018)
Governors
* Doug Ducey, Governor of Arizona (2015–2023) and the Chairman of the Republican Governors Association (2020–2022)
* Donald DiFrancesco, former Governor of New Jersey (2001–2002) and president of the New Jersey Senate (1992–2002)
* Larry Hogan, Governor of Maryland (2015–2023)
U.S. Representatives
* Frank LoBiondo, former U.S. Representative from New Jersey's 2nd congressional district (1995–2019)
* Jeff Van Drew, U.S. Representative from New Jersey's 2nd congressional district (2019–present)
State legislators
* Diane Allen, former state senator from the 7th district (1998–2018)
* John F. Amodeo, former state assemblyman from the 2nd district (2008–2014)
* Christopher "Kip" Bateman, state senator from the 16th district (2008–present)
* Chris A. Brown, state senator from the 2nd district (2018–present)
* Anthony M. Bucco, state senator from the 25th district (2019–present)
* Larry Chatzidakis, former state assemblyman from the 8th district (1997–2008)
* Kristin Corrado, state senator from the 40th district (2017–present), Chair of the New Jersey Senate Republican Conference (2019–present)
* BettyLou DeCroce, state assemblywoman from the 26th district (2012–present)
* Christopher DePhillips, state assemblyman from the 40th district (2018–present)
* Aura Dunn, state assemblywoman from the 25th district (2019–present)
* Thomas Kean Jr., state senator from the 21st district (2003–2022) and Senate Minority Leader (2008–2022)
* J. Edward Kline, former state assemblyman from the 2nd district (1985–1990)
* Kenneth LeFevre, former state assemblyman from the 2nd district (1996–2002)
* Gerry Nardello, former interim state assemblywoman from the 8th district (2011–2012)
* Ryan Peters, state assemblyman from the 8th district (2018–present)
* Vincent Polistina, former state assemblyman from the 2nd district (2008–2012) and candidate for state senate in the 2nd district in 2021
* Kevin J. Rooney, state assemblyman from the 40th district (2016–present)
* Gerard Scharfenberger, state assemblyman from the 13th district (2020–present)
* Holly Schepisi, state assemblywoman (2012–2021) and senator (2021–present) from the 39th district
* Jean Stanfield, state assemblywoman from the 8th district (2020–present)
* Mike Testa, state senator from the 1st district (2019–present)
Individuals
* Ronna McDaniel, Chair of the RNC (2017–present)
* Steve Rogers, Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign advisor
Newspapers
* New York Post
Trade associations
* ABC
* NFIB
Labor unions
* New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police
Organizations
* NJ Right to Life
Newspapers
* The Jersey Journal

### Polling
#### Aggregate polls

| Source of poll aggregation | Date(s) administered | Dates updated | Phil Murphy Democratic | Jack Ciattarelli Republican | Gregg Mele Libertarian | Madelyn Hoffman Green | Joanne Kuniansky Socialist Workers | Other/ Undecided | Lead |
| Real Clear Politics | Oct 15–31, 2021 | Nov 1, 2021 | 50.5% | 42.7% | - | - | - | 6.8% | 7.8% |

#### Table

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Phil Murphy (D) | Jack Ciattarelli (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Research Co. | October 31 – November 1, 2021 | 450 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 50% | 44% | 1% | 5% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R) | October 29–31, 2021 | 1,085 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 49% | 45% | 1% | 4% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | October 23–28, 2021 | 823 (RV) | ± 3.4% | 53% | 44% | 3% | – |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | October 21–27, 2021 | 901 (RV) | ± 4.1% | 50% | 42% | - | 8% |
| Stockton University | October 17–26, 2021 | 522 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 50% | 41% | 6% | 3% |
| Monmouth University | October 21–25, 2021 | 1,000 (RV) | ± 3.1% | 50% | 39% | 2% | 9% |
| Emerson College | October 15–18, 2021 | 600 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 50% | 44% | – | 7% |
| Schoen Cooperman Research (D) | October 9–12, 2021 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 50% | 41% | – | 9% |
| Stockton University | September 17–25, 2021 | 552 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 50% | 41% | 6% | 3% |
| Monmouth University | September 16–20, 2021 | 804 (RV) | ± 3.5% | 51% | 38% | 3% | 9% |
| National Research Inc. (R) | September 13–16, 2021 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 42% | – | 10% |
| Fabrizio Lee & Associates (R) | August 24–29, 2021 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 43% | 41% | 3% | 14% |
| Monmouth University | August 11–16, 2021 | 810 (RV) | ± 3.5% | 52% | 36% | 3% | 9% |
| National Research Inc. (R) | June 17–22, 2021 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 49% | 37% | - | 14% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | June 9–16, 2021 | 803 (RV) | ± 3.9% | 48% | 33% | 5% | 14% |
| Rutgers University | May 21–29, 2021 | 493 (A) | ± 5.4% | 52% | 24% | 13% | 12% |
| Rutgers University | May 21–29, 2021 | 467 (RV) | ± 5.6% | 52% | 26% | 11% | 10% |
| Change Research (D) | May 15–20, 2021 | 1,215 (A) | ± 3.9% | 47% | 36% | - | 17% |
| National Research Inc. (R) | April 11–13, 2021 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 47% | 30% | - | 23% |
Phil Murphy vs. generic opponent
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Phil Murphy (D) | Generic Opponent | Undecided |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | May 21–29, 2021 | 461 (RV) | – | 42% | 31% | 27% |
| Monmouth University | April 29 – May 4, 2021 | 661 (RV) | ± 3.8% | 48% | 44% | 8% |

### Results

During the election, several technical problems with internet connections were reported across the state after newly installed voting machines were used for the first time, resulting in machine malfunctions that were eventually resolved. This caused a delay in the final results. With 98% of the vote tallied, Ciattarelli conceded to Murphy at a news conference on November 12, 2021, and announced he would run again in 2025. This was the first time since 1949 that the winning gubernatorial candidate did not win a majority of counties, and the first since 1940 that a Democrat did so.
2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Phil Murphy (incumbent)Sheila Oliver (incumbent) | 1,339,471 | 51.22% | –4.81 |
| | Republican | Jack CiattarelliDiane Allen | 1,255,185 | 48.00% | +6.11 |
| | Green | Madelyn R. HoffmanHeather Warburton | 8,450 | 0.32% | –0.15 |
| | Libertarian | Gregg MeleEveline Brownstein | 7,768 | 0.30% | –0.19 |
| | Socialist Workers | Joanne KunianskyVivian Sahner | 4,012 | 0.15% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,614,886 | 100.00% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,648,814 | 40.47% | +1.97 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,545,250 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

#### By county

By county :
| County | Murphy | Murphy | Ciattarelli | Ciattarelli | Others | Others | Total | Margin | Margin |
| County | Votes | Percent | Votes | Percent | Votes | Percent | Votes | Votes | Percent |
| Atlantic | 35,736 | 44.0% | 44,977 | 55.3% | 595 | 0.7% | 81,308 | -9,241 | -11.30% |
| Bergen | 145,150 | 52.5% | 129,644 | 46.9% | 1,556 | 0.6% | 276,350 | 15,506 | 5.60% |
| Burlington | 82,877 | 53.3% | 71,772 | 46.1% | 898 | 0.6% | 155,547 | 11,105 | 7.20% |
| Camden | 92,162 | 61.7% | 56,016 | 37.5% | 1,214 | 0.8% | 149,392 | 36,146 | 24.20% |
| Cape May | 14,183 | 36.7% | 24,260 | 62.8% | 218 | 0.6% | 38,661 | -10,077 | -26.10% |
| Cumberland | 13,978 | 43.6% | 17,794 | 55.6% | 257 | 0.8% | 32,029 | -3,816 | -12.00% |
| Essex | 132,520 | 74.0% | 45,542 | 25.4% | 1,105 | 0.6% | 179,167 | 86,978 | 48.60% |
| Gloucester | 44,959 | 44.6% | 54,976 | 54.6% | 813 | 0.8% | 100,748 | -10,017 | -10.00% |
| Hudson | 88,066 | 73.6% | 30,443 | 25.4% | 1,206 | 1.0% | 119,715 | 57,623 | 48.20% |
| Hunterdon | 22,820 | 40.2% | 33,459 | 58.9% | 505 | 0.9% | 56,784 | -10,639 | -18.70% |
| Mercer | 66,151 | 65.1% | 34,617 | 34.1% | 857 | 0.8% | 101,625 | 31,534 | 31.00% |
| Middlesex | 116,352 | 55.9% | 90,297 | 43.4% | 2,109 | 0.7% | 208,758 | 26,055 | 12.50% |
| Monmouth | 96,664 | 40.3% | 141,100 | 58.8% | 2,024 | 0.8% | 239,788 | -44,436 | -18.50% |
| Morris | 81,915 | 44.1% | 102,769 | 55.3% | 1,239 | 0.7% | 185,923 | -20,854 | -11.20% |
| Ocean | 68,615 | 31.8% | 145,756 | 67.5% | 1,439 | 0.7% | 215,810 | -77,141 | -35.70% |
| Passaic | 57,812 | 51.5% | 53,551 | 47.7% | 961 | 0.9% | 112,324 | 4,261 | 3.80% |
| Salem | 6,893 | 35.0% | 12,620 | 64.1% | 178 | 0.9% | 19,691 | -5,727 | -29.10% |
| Somerset | 58,585 | 51.5% | 54,264 | 47.7% | 823 | 0.7% | 113,672 | 4,321 | 3.80% |
| Sussex | 17,346 | 31.9% | 36,310 | 66.8% | 663 | 1.2% | 54,319 | -18,964 | -34.90% |
| Union | 83,913 | 61.6% | 51,279 | 37.6% | 1,126 | 0.8% | 136,318 | 32,634 | 24.00% |
| Warren | 12,774 | 34.6% | 23,739 | 64.2% | 444 | 1.2% | 36,957 | -10,965 | -29.60% |
| Total | 1,339,471 | 51.22% | 1,255,185 | 48.00% | 20,230 | 0.77% | 2,614,886 | 84,286 | 3.22% |
* Republican — >15%
* Republican — +12.5−15%
* Republican — +10−12.5%
* Republican — +7.5−10%
* Republican — +5−7.5%
* Republican — +2.5−5%
* Republican — +0−2.5%
* No change
* Democratic — +0−2.5%
* Democratic — +2.5−5%
* Democratic — +5−7.5%
* Democratic — +7.5-10%
* Democratic — +10−12.5%
* Democratic — +12.5−15%

#### By congressional district

Murphy and Ciattarelli each won six of 12 congressional districts. Four districts won by Ciattarelli were represented by Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
| District | Murphy | Ciattarelli | Representative |
| 1st | 56.8% | 41.5% | Donald Norcross |
| 2nd | 40.2% | 58.9% | Jeff Van Drew |
| 3rd | 42.5% | 56.2% | Andy Kim |
| 4th | 39.6% | 59.6% | Chris Smith |
| 5th | 45.9% | 53.2% | Josh Gottheimer |
| 6th | 51.3% | 47.7% | Frank Pallone |
| 7th | 46.5% | 52.7% | Tom Malinowski |
| 8th | 73.3% | 25.8% | Albio Sires |
| 9th | 57.9% | 41.9% | Bill Pascrell |
| 10th | 81.4% | 15.6% | Donald Payne Jr. |
| 11th | 46.4% | 53.0% | Mikie Sherrill |
| 12th | 62.3% | 36.8% | Bonnie Watson Coleman |