Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill won New Jersey’s gubernatorial race on Tuesday to become the state’s 57th governor. She defeated US President Donald Trump-backed candidate Jack Ciattarelli, a former state representative and Republican, the Associated Press reported.
The 53-year-old congresswoman will be the second governor of New Jersey. Her victory gives Democrats control of the governor’s office for the third time in a row, marking the first time in six decades that one of the major parties has achieved a three-way gain.
Mikie Sherrill’s Personal Life and Family
Mikie Sherrill is a former US Navy pilot and attended the US Naval Academy where she met her husband Jason Hedberg. The couple had been married for more than 20 years, according to an Instagram post by Sherrill in April 2025, although the exact details of when they married are not publicly available.
In the post, Sherrill’s husband, Jason Hedberg, was seen volunteering for her campaign, where he also talked about their marriage.
They live in Montclair, New Jersey, and have four children – two sons and two daughters.
After military service, Jason Hedberg transitioned to civilian life and has reportedly worked in the aviation and financial sectors in recent years.
Details about Mikie Sherrill and Jason Hedberg’s children are limited, but two of their children, Lincoln and Margaret Hedberg, are said to be attending the US Naval Academy following in their parents’ footsteps.
Their admission to the institution recently caused controversy after it was revealed that the two of them were among the only nine students to secure a place. The two were reportedly nominated by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and former Sen. George Helmy.
Election results and victory report
With about 80% of the vote counted, the Associated Press estimated that Mikie Sherrill had 56% of the vote, compared to Jack Ciattarelli’s 42.9%.
Sherrill’s vote total exceeded 1,482,608 votes, while Ciattarelli received 1,133,364, the report said. As of 2019, he represents New Jersey’s 11th district in the US House of Representatives.
Shortly after announcing her victory, Sherrill posted a message on her X account to express her gratitude to New Jersey voters for electing her.
“I am honored to have earned your trust and become the 57th governor of this great state,” Sherrill wrote. “I promise to listen, lead with courage, and never forget who I serve,” she added in the post.
