Aug 12, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Gottheimer "strongly considering" New Jersey governor run

Andrew Solender

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, wearing a blue suit and standing next to a TV camera in front of a beige building. — Rep. Josh Gottheimer outside the Democratic National Committee's headquarters following a meeting of House Democrats on July 9. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) on Monday took a step closer to running for New Jersey governor in 2025, telling Axios he is "strongly considering" a bid.

Why it matters: The high-profile centrist and prodigious fundraiser could prove highly competitive in the crowded Democratic primary field with his nearly $20 million war chest.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) told Axios last week she is "strongly considering" a gubernatorial bid.

What they're saying: "I've been incredibly honored that everybody from labor leaders to mayors to party leaders and communities around the state have encouraged me to run, and I'm strongly considering it," Gottheimer told Axios in an interview on Monday.

The four-term House member, known for his moderate, bipartisan politics, said his pitch would be that he is "not only a good Democrat, but someone who can actually get things done," citing his record on issues like infrastructure, LGBTQ+ rights and abortion access.
Gottheimer signaled that he likely won't make any announcement before November. "We should all be focused on ... winning big in November and making sure Kamala Harris is the next president," he said.

Zoom in: A former Clinton White House speechwriter and business executive, Gottheimer was first elected to his seat in suburban New Jersey in 2016, defeating a longtime Republican incumbent.

He has distinguished himself as the co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and as the leader of a group of centrist holdouts on the Build Back Better Act — which he ultimately voted for.
Gottheimer helped lead the push for the bipartisan infrastructure law in 2021 and is a close ally of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

Zoom out: Four Democrats are already running for governor: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller and former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney.

Sherrill — who, like Gottheimer, is running for reelection — said she plans to make a decision on a gubernatorial run after this year's election on Nov. 5.
Gottheimer already has several powerful endorsements should he run, though polls suggest Sherrill is the early favorite in the primary.
Several Republicans are currently running, including former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, the GOP nominee for the job in 2021.

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Scoop: Gottheimer "strongly considering" New Jersey governor run

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