Incumbent Republican governor Chris Christie was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term.

Ambassador to Germany, won the Democratic primary, and chose former State Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver as his running mate.

38.5% of registered voters cast ballots, marking the lowest turnout on record for any gubernatorial election in New Jersey.

This is the first gubernatorial election since 1937 in which the Democratic nominee won without winning Salem County, and the first since 1981 that it voted for the losing candidate.

[10] On April 18, as is required by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, the candidates' financial disclosures, showing sources of earned income (e.g. salaries) and unearned income (e.g. investments), were made public.

Candidates who choose not to seek matching funds but commit to raising and spending at least $430,000 can also participate.

[17] The Republican debates included two of the five candidates: Jack Ciattarelli and Kim Guadagno, who both qualified for matching funds.

[109] The following candidates have qualified to appear in the state-sponsored debates:[110] The following third-party or independent candidates qualified for the ballot but did not raise enough money to qualify for state-sponsored debates: Federal politician State politicians NJ state legislators County Freeholders Mayors Individuals Organizations County Republican Party organizations Newspapers (primary) Newspapers (general) Federal politicians State politicians U.S. senators U.S. representatives NJ state legislators Mayors Individuals County Democratic Party organizations Organizations Newspapers (primary) Newspapers (general) Newspapers Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Murphy won 9 of 12 congressional districts, including two held by Republicans.