New Jersey

Democrats control the governor’s office and both chambers of the Legislature. Governor Mikie Sherrill took office in January 2026 after representing NJ-11 in Congress from 2019 to 2025. She is the first female military veteran elected governor of any U.S. state.

At her swearing-in, Sherrill signed two executive orders on utility costs. One freezes rate hikes. The other expands in-state power generation.

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The $15 Billion Tunnel Fight With Trump

The Gateway Tunnel is the biggest infrastructure project in the Northeast. It replaces a 115-year-old rail tunnel under the Hudson River that carries 200,000 daily riders on Amtrak and NJ Transit.

$15 billion in federally committed funding that the Trump administration tried to withhold

In January 2026, the Gateway Commission announced it could not continue construction until the administration resumed payments. One thousand workers faced immediate layoffs.

New Jersey and New York sued the Trump administration for illegally withholding the funds. A federal judge ordered the money disbursed. On February 18, 2026, the Gateway Commission said it had received the full $205 million reimbursement owed to it and would restart construction. It is still suing for reliable access to the rest of the federal money.

Sherrill called the funding freeze an “illegal attack on New Jersey” showing “reckless disregard” for working families. The lawsuit succeeded, but federal funding remains vulnerable to future executive action.

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Highest Property Taxes in the Nation

New Jersey property taxes are the most expensive in the country. Governor Sherrill’s FY2027 budget includes a record $4.2 billion in direct property tax relief.

The budget also invests more than $690 million in higher education financial assistance. Sherrill has said she wants to address healthcare and education costs more aggressively but has not been able to in her first 100 days.

Housing affordability is another pressure point. Executive Order 17, signed April 27, 2026, directs state agencies to coordinate on housing availability and creates a Housing Governing Council, with initial recommendations due within 150 days.

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115 Superfund Sites and EPA Cuts

New Jersey is home to nearly 9% of the nation’s Superfund sites, more than any other state. Thirty-seven have been fully cleaned up and removed from the National Priorities List. One hundred fifteen remain at various stages of remediation.

47% cut to congressional Superfund appropriations from the previous year

Regional EPA staffing has been slashed by roughly one-third. The sites that remain are the hardest and most expensive to clean. Fewer federal dollars and fewer federal staff means slower cleanup and longer exposure for the communities living next to contaminated ground.

The Climate Superfund Act (S3545) would raise $50 billion for climate resiliency: flood protection, transit upgrades, home buyouts, energy efficiency, and preventive healthcare. New Jersey would become the third state after Vermont and New York to pass ‘Polluters Pay’ legislation.

The bill advanced through the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. If signed, it would shift cleanup costs from taxpayers to the companies that created the contamination.

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Immigrant Protections Written Into Law

In January 2026, the outgoing Legislature sent three immigrant protection bills to Governor Murphy. He signed the Safe Communities Act and pocket-vetoed the other two on his last day in office. Rewritten versions passed in March, and on March 25, 2026, Governor Sherrill signed them, codifying the Immigrant Trust Directive into state law.

New Jersey is now one of the strongest sanctuary states in the country. The law does not prevent federal agents from operating in New Jersey, but it draws clear lines around what state and local officers will and will not do on behalf of ICE.

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2026 Elections in New Jersey

New Jersey’s Legislature is not on the 2026 ballot. The state elects its Assembly in odd-numbered years and its Senate on a cycle of 2021, 2023 and 2027 (N.J. Const. art. IV), so both chambers next face voters in November 2027. On November 3, 2026, New Jersey votes for U.S. Senate and all 12 U.S. House seats.

Sherrill’s ability to advance the Climate Superfund Act, housing reform, and healthcare legislation depends on the current Democratic majorities, which hold until the 2027 election.

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What You Can Do in New Jersey

1. Check your voter registration. The registration deadline for the November 3 election is October 13. Verify your status at vote.nj.gov.

2. Know your property tax relief options. If you are a senior homeowner, check whether you qualify for Stay NJ reimbursement. All homeowners and renters should confirm their ANCHOR enrollment at nj.gov/treasury/taxation/anchor.

3. Know your rights if ICE comes to your door. The Immigrant Trust Directive limits what local police can do. You do not have to open the door without a judicial warrant signed by a judge. The ACLU of New Jersey has a know-your-rights card at aclu-nj.org.

4. Find your state legislators. Look up your district at njleg.state.nj.us. Ask where they stand on the Climate Superfund Act and housing reform.

5. Call the governor’s office. 609-292-6000. Ask about the timeline for the Housing Governing Council action plan and healthcare affordability legislation.