Harrison Voters Weigh In on NJ Governor Race W/ Various Voting Options

On Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (and before), New Jersey voters will head to the polls not just for one local council election, but for a consequential gubernatorial election and state legislative contest, and the Hudson County  Sheriff. The governor’s race has drawn considerable attention, with both major parties treating it as a bellwether for broader political trends. Locally, voters in Harrison (Hudson County) will also cast ballots for state legislative seats that affect their representation in Trenton.

The Gubernatorial Contest: Sherrill v. Ciattarelli

With incumbent Governor Phil Murphy term-limited, the race for New Jersey’s 57th governor is open.

Democrat: Mikie Sherrill

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, representing New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, secured the Democratic nomination in the June 2025 primary from a crowded field including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. She selected Dale Caldwell as her running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Sherrill has emphasized affordability, housing, and economic pressures in her campaign, and often frames her message in opposition to national polarization.

Republican: Jack Ciattarelli

On the Republican side, former State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli — who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2021 — won the GOP nomination with strong backing. His running mate is Jim Gannon, the Sheriff of Morris County. Ciattarelli presents himself as a conservative alternative focused on tax relief, fiscal restraint, and countering what he calls overreach by liberal governing at the state level.

Third-party and independent candidates are also on the ballot, including Vic Kaplan (Libertarian) and Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers), among others.

While polling earlier in the year often showed Sherrill with a comfortable edge, more recent polls suggest a tightening race, with observers noting vulnerability in portions of her base and gains by Ciattarelli in suburban and independent voters..

Ever mindful of national trends, political scientists cast this as a litmus test for party energy heading into 2026. New Jersey, alongside Virginia, is one of the few states holding a gubernatorial election in this cycle. But other political pollsters state that New Jersey Voters concentrate on local issues and increasing taxes and costs is seen as important issues that voters want concrete answers on how to reduce them going forward.

Harrison Voters and the State Legislature Races

In Harrison (Hudson County), although there is NO municipal election this November (those elections are deferred until the 2026 cycle), residents will still see contested races for General Assembly and Hudson County Sheriff that affect their voice in Trenton and at the County.  Harrison does have an election for an unexpired term for the 4^th Ward Council seat.  Keep reading to learn more about the 4^th Ward voters' predicament of being the only council race in town.

Harrison falls within New Jersey’s 29th Legislative District. For the General Assembly seats, the Democratic incumbents are Eliana Pintor Marin and Shanique Speight.

Local observers expect these Democratic ticket candidates to run in tandem with the Sherrill/Caldwell campaign, forming a coordinated “line” in Hudson County. (More on that below.)

The Hudson County Republican Party is running General Assembly candidates, Noble D. Milton and Daniela Ferreira Almeida, and for Hudson County Sheriff, Elvis Alvarez, and under the slogan “People Over Politics,” Hudson County Sheriff candidate Justin Avishay.

Voter Registration Deadline: October 14, 2025

If you still haven’t registered to vote — or if you recently moved into Harrison and need to update your registration address — the deadline is Tuesday, October 14, 2025. New Jersey’s standard Voter Registration form doubles as a Change of Address form; simply check the dedicated “Change of Address” box at the top and fill in your new address, and submit the form to the address on the Voter Registration form.

Don’t delay — that date is your last chance to ensure your name appears on the correct ward’s voter rolls ahead of early voting and Election Day.

Sample Ballots to Arrive October 22

Expect your Sample Ballot to be mailed out starting Wednesday, October 22, 2025. This mailed booklet will contain your personalized ballot layout (including all contests you may be eligible to vote on) as well as the address of your Election Day polling location. Keep it handy. It serves as a useful reference when you cast your actual ballot.

Early Voting: Sat. October 25 – Sun. Nov. 2, 2025

ExpressVote XL machines made by ES&S are Hudson County's Voting machines

New Jersey is offering in-person early voting from Sat, October 25, through Sunday, November 2, 2025. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Hudson County will use the same voting machines during early voting that will be used on Election Day. Hudson County uses ExpressVote XL machines made by ES&S (Election Systems & Software).

These machines are ballot-marking devices, allowing individual voters to make selections on a touchscreen interface and then print out a paper ballot that displays the voter’s selections. That paper ballot can then be reviewed and retained — and, if needed, used in a recount or election contest. It has proven to be a robust voting machine that provides a paper trail, missing in prior electronic voting machines in Hudson County.

Early voting helps ease congestion on Election Day and gives voters more flexibility. But one should plan ahead: vote early only during those six days and at approved early voting sites in your county. The closest Early Voting Location is at the Town of Kearny Town Hall located at 402 Kearny Avenue, Kearny, NJ.  Entry is on the ground level.  Look for the American Flag and signage that states “Vote Here”. There are also several voting locations, including Jersey City City Hall, 280 Grove Street (Montgomery St. entrance) (you can take the PATH train from Harrison, NJ)

Vote By Mail (Mail-In Ballots)

If you prefer to vote by mail, the deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Tuesday, October 28, 2025.  Once issued, mail-in ballots must be completed and returned according to the instructions, typically either via an Election Division Drop Box, mail (postmarked by Election Day), or hand-delivered to the county board of elections or designated offices by the deadline. Bring valid identification, which includes an unexpired New Jersey Driver’s License.  Please note that in prior elections, a United States Passport was deemed by Hudson County Election officials not to be a valid form of identification. Be sure to follow all instructions exactly (sign your envelope, seal it, include any required affidavits) to avoid disqualification. If you don’t receive your Mail in Ballot, you can vote on a Paper Provisional Ballot that is sealed much like the Vote By Mail Ballot and counted if necessary after a determination that the Vote By Mail ballot was not received.

Election Day: November 4, 2025 — 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

On Tuesday, November 4, polling locations throughout New Jersey will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  In Harrison, each of 4 Wards has its own polling place located within the Ward, making it more convenient for residents to reach their assigned polling location without crossing ward boundaries. (Your Sample Ballot will confirm your specific polling place.)

Remember: as long as you are inside your polling place by 8 p.m., you are entitled to cast your ballot, regardless of how long the line is.

Local Spotlight: Harrison’s 2026 Mayoral / Council Election

Although there is no municipal election in Harrison in 2025, Mayor James Fife and a cohort of council members are locked into the 2026 municipal election cycle. In fact, Fife unexpectedly announced his intention to run for re-election in 2026, during a March 2025 council meeting (even though 2026 was more than a year away). His announcement was not on the meeting agenda but came after some informal remarks, sparking some surprise in the chamber.

Fife has already served multiple terms as Harrison’s mayor (initially appointed in 2014 on the sudden death of then-Mayor Raymond J. McDonough, and then elected subsequently) and has remained a fixture of local politics. With the municipal contest off the 2025 ballot, attention this fall will be concentrated on state and legislative races, but local politicos will surely begin positioning for 2026. Several issues have gone unaddressed from the 2022 Mayor race, including a lack of Parking, Tax increases despite record new development PILOT money flowing into the Town ($16 million this year), and Mayor Fife’s lying to residents in 2022 that a Toxic Agent Orange Sludge plant was not coming to the Town of Harrison.  The public has since learned the truth that Mayor Fife and Councilman James Doran have supported the Toxic Sludge plant at the PSE&G property across from a residential community of luxury residential buildings in Harrison since at least 2022.

Unusual Twist: Michael T. Dolaghan’s Comeback Run

One of the more intriguing local stories concerns former Councilman Michael T. Dolaghan and the vacant 4th Ward seat in Harrison. Dolaghan had resigned his council seat in November 2024, stepping away from public office and his role as Board of Education facilities director. At that time, he appeared to retire from local government entirely.

However, in an unexpected turn, Dolaghan later filed to run again for the unexpired term of the very seat he vacated. The Chairman of the Harrison Democratic Party, James Doran, stated at a council meeting that the County Committee which proposes candidates for vacant council seats they had not met because of time constraints. It appears that the County Committee meeting was not called to allow Michael T. Dolaghan to take back his council seat. In the 2025 general election, he is the only candidate on the ballot for that seat. There is no Republican opponent, but a registered voter in Harrison’s 4th Ward could still cast a write-in vote (using the on-screen keyboard on the voting machine or through mail-in ballots).

This creates a rare situation where an ex-council member tries to reclaim their own seat. It will be interesting to see whether voters realize Dolaghan is on the ballot and come out to vote for him.

The Democratic Ticket in Hudson County

In Hudson County and Harrison specifically, the Hudson County Democratic slate is running in tandem down the ballot:

• Governor / Lieutenant Governor: Mikie Sherrill / Dale Caldwell
• General Assembly: Eliana Pintor Marin and Shanique Speight
• Hudson County Sheriff: James A. Davis, who in the June 2025 Democratic primary defeated incumbent Sheriff Frank X. Schillari (who had run off the Democratic line).

By aligning the state legislative and county offices, the Democratic Party aims to produce a unified “line” for voters to follow, maximizing coattails from the gubernatorial race into down-ballot turnout and victories. It appears Hudson County is ignoring the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that candidates be bracketed by office and not party, so voters can see the list of candidates for a particular office.

Final Thoughts & Voter Tips

• Double-check your registration well before October 14, especially if you’ve recently moved into Harrison.
• Watch for your Sample Ballot after October 22 — it’s your roadmap to all the contests you’ll face.
• Consider using Early Voting between Saturday. October 25 and Sun. November 2nd to avoid Election Day crowds.
• If you prefer Mail-in voting, submit your request by October 28, and return your ballot per the instructions.
• On Election Day, go to your assigned polling place (in your ward) between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., and stay in line if the polls are busy.
• Pay attention to the local twist in Ward 4 — if you want Michael T. Dolaghan as the 4th Ward council member, make sure you go out and Vote despite no other local elections.

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