New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer Announces Run for Governor, Criticizes Trump

Gottheimer, a Democrat, is the first major candidate to enter the race to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy.

New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D) announced his run for governor in a video released on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. In the video, Gottheimer criticized former President Donald Trump and said that "we need to stand up to him." The five-term congressman is the first major candidate to enter the race to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy (D), who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection in 2025. In the video, Gottheimer highlighted his record in Congress, including his work on infrastructure, healthcare, and education. He also criticized Trump, saying that "he's a threat to our democracy." Gottheimer said that "we need to stand up to him and fight for the values that make New Jersey strong."

Gottheimer has been a vocal critic of Trump since the former president took office in 2017.

In 2019, Gottheimer co-founded the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers dedicated to finding common ground on issues facing the country. He has also been a vocal critic of Trump's trade policies, which he says have hurt New Jersey businesses. Gottheimer's announcement comes as New Jersey Democrats prepare for a crowded gubernatorial primary. Several other Democrats are considering running for governor, including state Sen. Brian Stack (D-Union) and former state Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union). The primary election is scheduled for June 6, 2025. The general election will be held on November 5, 2025.