NJ Pastor Launches Write-In Campaign For Governor: 2025 Election

A clergy member and community activist from New Jersey is reaching out to the state’s 2.3 million unaffiliated voters as he ramps up his write-in campaign for governor.

The Rev. Darrell Armstrong, pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, recently announced that he is running as an independent candidate in the general election on Nov. 4.

Armstrong said that his campaign platform includes economic revitalization, affordable housing, tax reduction, educational reform, equal opportunity and community reconciliation. Learn more here.

The pastor said he is making an appeal to disenfranchised voters in his attempt to “put people over politics” and become the first write-in candidate elected governor in the state’s history.

Armstrong said he believes that – as a Black man who was part of the foster system, lived in poverty, had family members die due to street and gun violence and worked hard to graduate from Stanford, Princeton Seminary and The College of New Jersey – he is uniquely qualified to understand the harsh realities that many New Jerseyans struggle with every day.

According to the pastor, he is a “defender of diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI), who also believes in “fair and legal immigration reform” and “enhanced and tangible support for marginalized communities.”

Armstrong said he hopes to branch out from Central Jersey with grassroots outreach to the south and north parts of the state.

Millions of voters in New Jersey are undeclared, he pointed out – and now is the time for them to “color boldly outside of political lines,” he encouraged.

“I’ve been listening to people who strongly believe that their real-life problems have not been a priority for our government and won’t be a priority for the candidates representing our two-party system,” Armstrong said.

There were 2.31 million unaffiliated voters in New Jersey as of Aug. 1, according to the most recent data from state election officials. There were 2.53 million registered Democrats and 1.66 million registered Republicans.

The gubernatorial hopeful offered a metaphor for his campaign that references two of the state’s most iconic highways.

“Politics can sometimes feel like navigating the Turnpike or Garden State Parkway during rush hour—frustrating and confusing,” Armstrong remarked. “But with your support, the ride to a better New Jersey is possible. Buckle up, New Jersey, because together, we can create a state that’s more affordable, inclusive, and united.”

Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, is term-limited and can’t run again this year. Candidates seeking to replace him include Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill, Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli, and several third-party and independent candidates: Vic Kaplan (Libertarian Party), Lily Benavides (Green Party), Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party), Gerardo Cedrone (independent) and Karen Zaletel (independent).

The general election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Learn more about voting in New Jersey here.

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