George Craig Ludlow (April 6, 1830 – December 18, 1900) was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 25th governor of New Jersey from 1881 to 1884.

Ludlow entered office facing Republican control of both houses of the legislature and amid rumors that the Pennsylvania Railroad had ordered its employees to vote for him.

"[1] In 1882, Ludlow vetoed a bill to allow the Central Railroad of New Jersey's board of directors to increase the corporation's capital stock without shareholder approval, thus removing control from the stockholders.

He denounced that bill as "an abuse of legislative power and a violation of the principles of fair dealing and justice."

After running a deficit of approximately $281,000.00 in 1882 (equivalent to $8,871,848 in 2023), Ludlow placed greater emphasis on increasing taxes on corporations, especially railroads.

[1] Ludlow was also the first governor to devote attention to clean water access; established a council to oversee asylums, prisons, jails and almhouses; and signed a law classifying municipalities into four groups.