New Jersey

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

Sherrill signed two executive orders during her inaugural address. One addressed transit. The other targeted government efficiency. She has called herself “the transit-obsessed Governor.”

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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. Officials called the funding deadline “a five-alarm fire.” 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. As of February 18, 2026, the Gateway Commission confirmed the full amount had been repaid.

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 directs state agencies to coordinate on housing availability and creates a Housing Governing Council with a full action plan expected by September 2026.

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115 toxic sites and a gutted EPA

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 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, who signed them before leaving office. In March 2026, Governor Sherrill signed a separate bill codifying the Immigrant Trust Directive into state law.

Protection	What it does
Immigrant Trust Directive	Defines when state and local police can and cannot cooperate with federal immigration authorities
Safe community spaces	Designates schools, hospitals, and houses of worship where federal enforcement is restricted
Privacy protections	Limits how personal information can be shared with federal agencies

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

All 120 legislative seats are on the ballot in November 2026. The primary is June 2, 2026. Democrats hold the governor’s office for the first time in three consecutive terms in more than 60 years, but every seat in both chambers is up for grabs.

Race	Date	What is at stake
Primary election	June 2, 2026	All 40 Senate and 80 Assembly seats
General election	November 3, 2026	Full Legislature, continued Democratic control or a split government

Sherrill’s ability to advance the Climate Superfund Act, housing reform, and healthcare legislation depends on keeping legislative majorities. A Republican flip in either chamber would create gridlock on the governor’s top priorities.

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Protect yourself right now

1. Check your voter registration. The June 2 primary is the next election. Verify your status at vote.nj.gov. The general election registration deadline is October 13.

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. Every seat is on the ballot. Look up your district and candidates 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.