NJ Governor 2025: What Really Matters

New Jersey's governor election is happening in November 2025, and for the first time in a long time, young voters might actually decide who wins. NJ has been solidly blue for decades, but things are shifting. People are leaving the state in droves, property taxes are insane, and voters are fed up with the status quo.

So let's cut through the political nonsense and talk about what this election actually means. Not the culture war garbage. Not the national party talking points. Just the stuff that affects your life: taxes, jobs, cost of living, and whether you can afford to build a future in New Jersey.

"New Jersey: Great pizza, terrible taxes. The 2025 governor's race might actually change that. Or make it worse. Your vote decides."

Why This Race Actually Matters

State elections don't get the hype of presidential races, but here's the truth: your governor affects your daily life way more than the president does. The governor sets your state taxes, controls education funding, signs or vetoes laws on housing and zoning, and basically runs the state.

New Jersey's governor has a ton of power. They appoint judges, control the budget, and can issue executive orders on everything from COVID restrictions to gun laws. If you care about policy that actually impacts you—not just Twitter discourse—the governor's race matters.

And this race? It's wide open. Current Governor Phil Murphy is termed out, so there's no incumbent. Both parties see an opportunity. Democrats think they can keep NJ blue. Republicans think they can flip it. And young voters—who historically don't show up for state races—could be the tiebreaker.

The Elephant in the Room: Property Taxes

Let's start with the issue nobody can ignore: New Jersey has the highest property taxes in America. Not just high—the highest. The average property tax bill in NJ is over $9,000 per year. In some counties, it's over $12,000. For a starter home.

Why does this matter if you're renting? Because landlords pass those costs to you. Your rent is high because property taxes are high. Your parents are considering moving to Florida because they can't afford to retire in NJ. And if you want to buy a house someday? Good luck affording a $15,000 annual tax bill on top of your mortgage.

Every candidate will promise to "lower property taxes." They always do. But here's the reality: NJ's property taxes are high because the state relies on them to fund everything. Schools, roads, local services—it all comes from property taxes. Until someone reforms how NJ funds government, taxes will stay high.

So when candidates talk about property taxes, ask them how. What are they cutting? What are they reforming? Because vague promises won't lower your rent or make homeownership affordable. Demand specifics, not slogans.

The Mass Exodus: Why People Are Leaving NJ

New Jersey is losing people. Fast. In 2023, NJ had one of the highest rates of domestic out-migration in the country. Translation: more people are moving out than moving in. And it's not just retirees heading to Florida—it's young professionals, families, and businesses.

Why? Cost of living. High taxes. Expensive housing. Brutal commutes. Better opportunities in other states. North Carolina, Texas, and Florida are all cheaper, have better job markets, and don't tax you into oblivion. So people leave.

This should terrify everyone in NJ politics. When your state is hemorrhaging young, educated workers, that's a death spiral. Fewer workers means less tax revenue. Less tax revenue means higher taxes on those who stay. Higher taxes mean more people leave. Rinse and repeat until NJ becomes the next Illinois.

The next governor needs to answer one question: Why should young people stay in New Jersey? What's the value proposition? Because right now, there isn't one. And unless that changes, NJ will keep bleeding talent to states that actually want young workers.

Jobs and the Economy: Can You Actually Build a Career Here?

New Jersey's economy is... complicated. It's got pharma, finance, logistics, and proximity to NYC. But it's also got high costs, heavy regulation, and a business climate that makes companies think twice about expanding here.

If you're in pharma or finance, NJ is great. If you're in tech, hospitality, or literally anything else? You're probably looking at NYC, Philly, or moving out of state entirely. NJ doesn't have the startup ecosystem of NYC or Boston. It doesn't have the low costs of North Carolina or Texas. It's stuck in the middle—expensive but not exciting.

The next governor needs to make NJ competitive for young workers. That means:

• Lowering the cost of doing business so companies actually want to hire here.

• Investing in industries beyond pharma—tech, clean energy, advanced manufacturing.

• Fixing the hellscape that is NJ Transit so people can actually get to work without losing their minds.

• Making housing affordable so young workers can live near their jobs without spending 50% of their income on rent.

If NJ can't offer good jobs, affordable housing, and a reasonable cost of living, it's over. Young people will leave, and the state will turn into a retirement community with horrible taxes. The 2025 governor's race is literally about whether NJ has a future.

Housing: The Crisis Nobody Wants to Fix

Let's talk about housing, because it's a disaster. New Jersey has some of the least affordable housing in the country. Median home prices are over $500,000. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in a decent area? $2,000+. And good luck finding anything affordable near transit or jobs.

Why is housing so expensive? Zoning. NJ has some of the most restrictive zoning laws in America. Single-family-only zoning, minimum lot sizes, height restrictions—all designed to keep housing supply low and prices high. NIMBYs love it. Everyone else suffers.

The solution? Build more housing. Allow duplexes, townhomes, and apartments near transit. Reduce parking requirements. Streamline permitting. Basically, let people build homes where people want to live. It's not complicated—it's just politically unpopular because homeowners don't want their property values to drop.

But here's the thing: if young people can't afford housing, they'll leave. And when they leave, those expensive homes won't be worth as much anyway. So either NJ fixes housing now, or it becomes a state for rich retirees and nobody else.

Ask candidates: Will you fight NIMBYs and reform zoning? Because if they won't, housing will stay unaffordable, and young voters will keep moving to Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and anywhere else they can actually afford a life.

"New Jersey: where a starter home costs $500k and comes with $10k/year in property taxes. But hey, at least the pizza is good."

What the Candidates Are Actually Saying

As of early 2025, the race is shaping up with candidates from both parties jumping in. Here's what to watch for:

Democratic candidates will likely focus on protecting abortion rights, expanding healthcare access, and "investing in infrastructure." They'll pitch themselves as the party that supports working families and won't cut services. Expect lots of talk about "affordability" while defending the high-tax, high-spend status quo.

Republican candidates will hammer property taxes, the cost of living, and the mass exodus from NJ. They'll pitch tax cuts, deregulation, and business-friendly policies. Expect lots of talk about "making NJ affordable again" while probably avoiding specifics on what they'd actually cut.

Both sides will claim they're the solution. Both sides will attack the other as extreme. Your job as a voter? Demand details. Don't fall for vague promises. Ask how they'll lower taxes without cutting services people need. Ask how they'll make housing affordable without pissing off homeowners. Ask what they'll do to stop people from leaving.

Because this isn't a culture war. This is about whether New Jersey is a state where young people can build a future. And that requires actual policy, not just talking points.

Why Young Voters Are the Key

Here's the secret: young voters could decide this election. NJ's electorate is aging, but there are still hundreds of thousands of voters under 35. If they show up, they could swing the race. If they don't, it'll be decided by boomers who already own homes and don't care about affordability.

In 2021, Murphy won re-election by just 3 points. It was supposed to be a blowout, but Republicans almost flipped it. Why? Turnout. Specifically, low turnout among young voters and high turnout among older, more conservative voters.

2025 will be the same story. If young voters show up, Democrats probably win. If they don't, Republicans have a real shot. And both parties know this, which is why they'll spend millions targeting young voters with ads about student debt, climate change, abortion, and whatever else polls well.

But here's the thing: your vote should be about your life, not their talking points. Vote for the candidate who will make NJ affordable. Vote for the candidate who will create good jobs. Vote for the candidate who will fix housing so you don't have to move to North Carolina just to afford a house.

Because this election isn't about national politics. It's about whether you can build a life in New Jersey. And that's worth showing up for.

The Issues That Should Matter (But Probably Won't)

Beyond taxes and housing, here are the issues candidates should be talking about but probably won't:

NJ Transit is a joke. Delays, cancellations, and overcrowding are the norm. If NJ wants to keep young workers, it needs reliable public transit. Period.

Pension crisis. NJ's public pension system is underfunded by tens of billions. Someone has to pay for it. Guess who? You. This needs to be fixed before it bankrupts the state.

Education funding. NJ spends a fortune on schools, but outcomes are uneven. Wealthy districts are great. Poor districts are failing. The next governor needs to fix this without just throwing more money at the problem.

Energy costs. NJ has some of the highest energy costs in the country. If we're going green, fine—but make it affordable. Don't force working families to choose between heating their homes and paying rent.

These issues won't dominate headlines, but they'll affect your life. Don't let candidates distract you with culture war nonsense. Focus on what matters: your wallet, your career, and your future.

What You Need to Do

If you care about New Jersey's future—or your own—here's your action plan:

1. Register to vote. Deadline is 21 days before the election. Go to nj.gov/state/elections and do it now. Takes 5 minutes.

2. Research the candidates. Don't just vote based on party. Look at their actual plans for taxes, housing, and jobs. Demand specifics.

3. Vote in the primary. Primaries are in June 2025. That's when you pick which candidates make it to the general election. If you skip the primary, you don't get to complain about your options in November.

4. Show up in November. Election Day is November 4, 2025. Mark your calendar. Make a plan. Vote early if possible. Just don't skip it.

5. Get your friends to vote. Youth turnout is low because young people don't make voting a priority. Change that. Make it a social thing. "We're all voting Tuesday, then grabbing dinner." Make democracy cool again.

The Bottom Line: Your Vote, Your Future

New Jersey is at a crossroads. It can either become a state where young people can build careers and afford homes, or it can become a high-tax retirement community where only the wealthy can stay. The 2025 governor's race will decide which path we take.

Older voters will show up. They always do. The question is: will you? Because if young voters sit this out, NJ's future will be decided by people who won't be around to live with the consequences. And that's insane.

So yeah, this election matters. Property taxes, housing costs, job opportunities, whether you can afford to stay in NJ—it's all on the ballot. Your vote will help decide whether New Jersey has a future worth sticking around for.

Candidates will make a lot of promises. They'll run slick ads and give great speeches. But at the end of the day, only one question matters: Will this person make New Jersey a place where I can actually build a life?

If the answer is yes, vote for them. If the answer is no, vote them out. And if you don't vote at all, don't complain when NJ stays expensive, dysfunctional, and hostile to young workers.

November 2025. Mark your calendar. Do your research. And show up. Because New Jersey's future is literally on the ballot. Show up or shut up. Your call.