Find out where the candidates stand
The primary campaign for governor is in full swing. Vote By Mail ballots, for those that requested them, are being sent out next Saturday, April 19. Last Friday, the NJ Parental Rights Coalition released three informative videos featuring top-tier Republican candidates—Jon Bramnick, Jack Ciattarelli, and Bill Spadea. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. If you haven’t seen them yet, we encourage you to explore the links below!
This week, we are pleased to release the 2025 Gubernatorial Voter Guide for the Primary Election. Each candidate in the voter guide was sent a Candidate Survey in January. They were asked to indicate whether they SUPPORT or OPPOSE specific policies or executive actions. If a candidate declined to respond, they were marked as ‘Did Not Answer.’ When public information was available, their publicly stated position was included in the footnotes.
The Voter Guide is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a formal endorsement of any candidate.
What was the focus of the candidate survey?
Our organization sought to understand how the candidates intend to use their executive authority to appoint a new Attorney General and Commissioner of Education. The reality remains that, without changes in the legislature, a new governor cannot repeal existing laws such as the Reproductive Choice Act—which permits abortion up to birth—or the Diversity Curriculum, which includes lessons on gender identity starting in kindergarten.
However, replacing the Attorney General could lead to the rescinding of legal cases against school boards and pregnancy resource centers. Additionally, appointing a new Commissioner of Education could allow for revisions to the Transgender Student Guidelines.
Which candidates were included in the candidate survey?
The NJFPC featured only those candidates authorized to participate in the next official gubernatorial debates sanctioned by the New Jersey Law Enforcement Commission. Candidates qualified for these debates by meeting matching fund requirements, which involved either raising $580,000 or personally committing to spend the same amount on their campaign through a personal donation. In 2017, Phil Murphy opted out of matching funds as a candidate for the primary election but had spent enough of his own money to qualify for the debates.
