By Lynna King ’25, Social Justice Writer

As most of New Jersey knows well by now, Phil Murphy won the gubernatorial election in New Jersey. However, with a small margin of 65, 242 votes between Murphy and Jack Ciaterelli, this election emphasized the importance of voting. However, despite the closeness of this election, Murphy became the first Democratic governor to be reelected in NJ in over 40 years. This major change is a result of Murphy’s aggressive campaigning and reflects the growing diversity of the state. 

In Essex County, where Newark Academy is located, Murphy won with 73.7% of the votes. This is significant as Essex County, being the second-largest county, portrays a lot of the local opinion. In Bergen County, he won 52.4% of the votes. Murphy won overall ballots in the most heavily populated counties in the state which meant more citizens and more votes.

Despite the importance of local elections like this one, they often fail to engage as many citizens as presidential elections do. Every election term, only around 15%-27% of eligible voters cast their ballot for mayor. In 2020, approximately 67% of eligible voters in the whole country cast their ballots for the presidential election. Since fewer people vote in municipal elections, each ballot makes a larger impact on these smaller elections compared to presidential elections. Although voting is always significant, municipal elections tend to have a larger impact on yourself and others in your town. These elected people are the first line of representatives, and they also make an impact on your daily life, along with some of the more prominent figures like the president. These smaller differences make voting in municipal elections especially important. 

Although our country tends to pay more attention to congressional and federal elections, elections for governors and mayors are just as important because of state and county representation. In particular, New Jersey and Virginia get more attention than other states because these two states hold their elections one year after the presidential election. This system acts as a “test” to see the president’s popularity after their first year in office. Due to these elections being back to back, it requires voters to be consistently politically engaged. Furthermore, New Jersey elections have previously shown an unfavorable response to the newly elected president. In 2016, when Donald Trump was elected as president, New Jersey chose a democratic governor. These local New Jersey elections stress the importance of voting as the outcomes often reflect the first year of the president’s popularity. One reason for the small margin could be Biden’s performance; his choice to withdraw from Afghanistan and other controversial problems arising likely impacted Murphy’s outcome.  

All of the attention drawn towards the New Jersey gubernatorial elections is an additional factor proving how important it is to take action and vote. On top of representation, elections, whether municipal or gubernatorial, are vital especially in one’s home state. Some of Murphy’s plans were for an increased minimum wage and greater access to child care. Despite the close race, he hopes to do everything he can to make a “stronger and fairer” New Jersey. Taking action by voting, especially in smaller municipal elections, is so vital because each vote makes a larger impact and it’s one’s first line of representation in the political world.