Rep. Josh Gottheimer announcing his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor at Runway Diner in South Hackensack on Nov. 15, 2025. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor)
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a moderate Bergen County Democrat who leads a bipartisan House group in Washington, launched his gubernatorial campaign Friday, joining a crowded field of Democrats hoping to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy.
Gottheimer, now serving his fifth term representing the 5th District in the House, launched his campaign on a promise of affordability, pledging to cut taxes at the state and local level, boost job creation, and win New Jersey more federal tax dollars.
“As governor, I’ll bring down your property and income taxes,” Gottheimer said during his campaign launch at the Runway Diner in South Hackensack. “Let me say it again because I’m not sure you’ve heard it from Democrats in a really long time: I’m going to cut your property and income taxes.”
Gottheimer, who has frequently bragged about efforts to “claw back” federal dollars New Jersey taxpayers send to D.C., said he would create a clawback czar if he takes control of state government.
New Jersey is one of roughly a dozen states that has a negative return on federal taxes its residents pay, receiving about 75 cents for every dollar paid in 2019, according to Rutgers University’s New Jersey State Policy Lab.
The congressman has regularly attacked other, chiefly Republican, states that get a better return, calling them “moocher states.”
“I have nothing against Louisiana, but they get about half their annual state budget from the federal government — half on day one,” he said. “We get about 20%. We’ve got to fix that. We’ll do that.”
The Livingston native joins a crowded Democratic primary field that already includes Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, former state Sen. Steve Sweeney, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, and teachers union chief Sean Spiller. Murphy is barred from seeking a third consecutive term next year.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat who has represented New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District since first winning election in 2018, is also expected to launch a gubernatorial campaign soon.
Numerous Republicans are also seeking to succeed Murphy, including state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, radio host Bill Spadea, former state Sen. Ed Durr, real estate broker Robert Canfield, and former Burlington City mayor Jim Fazzone.
On Friday, Gottheimer, who lives in Wyckoff, backed universal preschool, universal free school meals, and added police staffing to combat crime. He said he also supports an energy portfolio that includes renewables alongside carbon capture natural gas.
He pledged to bolster major industry sectors in New Jersey — like life sciences, financial services, and skilled manufacturing — and said he would continue Gov. Phil Murphy’s efforts on job creation in the Artificial Intelligence field and courting businesses in other states.
“I also believe the private sector and government need to work together to solve problems, not one or the other, but both,” he said.
Gottheimer is co-chair of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group that aims to break gridlock in Washington.
“We don’t always agree, but we’re willing to sit together, develop relationships, talk civilly about the issues, and find places of common ground and get things done that are good for Jersey. And together, we’ve helped pass laws that everyone said were just impossible to get done,” he said.
He also said he would seek ideas for governance from across the political spectrum.
Gottheimer, who was a speechwriter for President Bill Clinton, joined Congress in 2016 after ousting seven-term GOP Rep. Scott Garrett and has won reelection in every cycle since by no less than seven points.
Before joining Congress, Gottheimer was an executive at Microsoft and an advisor to former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski.
“I understand business. I understand the public sector, and I’m ready to lead our great state,” Gottheimer said.
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