NEW JERSEY — Democratic U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey launched a long-expected campaign for governor Friday, pledging to make the state more affordable.

Gottheimer’s announcement comes just over week after he won reelection for a fourth term in the House in his northern New Jersey district, and he joins an already crowded field for the Democratic nomination in next year’s gubernatorial contest.

He announced his run at a diner in populous suburban Bergen County, which he partly represents. Acknowledging the state’s heavy tax burden and reflecting some of the themes that played out in the recent White House race, Gottheimer pinned his campaign to bringing down prices.

“I am running to be the lower taxes, lower costs governor,” he said. “Life in Jersey has become too damn expensive.”

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s second term expires after next year’s election, and he is barred by term limits from running again.

Also seeking the Democratic nomination to be governor are Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, teachers union president Sean Spiller and former Senate President Steve Sweeney.

Republicans are also lining up to run. Among them are state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former state legislator Jack Ciattarelli, former state Sen. Ed Durr and radio host Bill Spadea.

Gottheimer, a former speechwriter for Bill Clinton and adviser to the head of the Federal Communications Commission, toppled conservative Republican Rep. Scott Garrett in 2016. He has since become known as a more moderate member of Congress, co-chairing the Problem Solvers Caucus with Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, of Pennsylvania. He is also known as a prolific campaign fundraiser.

If Gottheimer has to resign his House seat, state law calls for the governor to call a special election to fill the vacancy if the seat opens up 70 days before the election.

New Jersey and Virginia are the only states with races for governor next year.

A New Jersey woman just entered the millionaire club.

The state’s lottery program announced that Stacey Fiore, an MTA supervisor stationed on Staten Island, won the Powerball prize last weekend.

Fiore plays the Mega Millions and Powerball lotteries weekly, according to lottery officials.

She ran into her local Quick Stop last Saturday and pulled a quick pick, which turned out to the payday she had long been hoping for.

“I checked the numbers on Monday on the (Lottery’s phone app),” Fiore told the state lottery. “It said ‘Congratulations. You won a million dollars.’”

The winning numbers were 11, 24, 50, 56, and 66.

Fiore was missing the Powerball number, though, keeping her from the big jackpot.

The Barnegat woman has been spreading the good news. She said she does not care about remaining anonymous.

“I went to the bank and asked to speak to the manager. I said ‘You know somebody won $1 million here in town? Well, that’s me!’” Fiore said.

What are her big plans for the money? Fiore is considering a nice vacation with her husband.

Like many others, the MTA supervisor joked to her colleagues about not returning to work if she wins big. Jokes aside, Fiore was back at work this week on Staten Island.

Democrat New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who announced on Friday that he is running for governor in 2025, suggested the need to “stand up to” President-elect Donald Trump following the “horrible” election outcome.

Gottheimer, who entered into a crowded Democratic field for New Jersey governor, said that Trump’s win was a “terrible loss for America.”

“Let’s pause for a minute, the election outcome was a horrible loss for America. Every candidate running for governor agrees,” he said on Friday at a diner in South Hackensack.

“We need to stand up to Trump,” he said.

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Gottheimer pointed to Trump’s stance on abortion, the environment and gun safety as “major issues” with the president-elect.

“On the major issues from healthcare to the environment to gun safety, every candidate shares the same goals, and on the issue of abortion rights, we will all stand up to Trump and his extremist attacks on women’s health care,” he said. “We must reinstate Roe.”

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said that Trump’s win in the 2024 presidential election was a “terrible loss for America.”  (Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

After promising to “stand up” to Trump, the representative of New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District stated his main priority as governor would be lowering costs for New Jersey residents.

“But there is one more issue that defines who I am, and what I’ll fight for,” he said. “Jersey is now the fourth most expensive state in the entire nation to live in, and unlike everyone else in this race, I’m focused like a laser beam on the need to lower your taxes and lower your costs.”

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U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said his main priority as New Jersey governor, besides standing up to Trump, would be lowering costs for the state’s residents. (Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Gottheimer joins a slew of Democratic candidates, including former state Sen. Stephen Sweeney, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, in the state’s gubernatorial race.

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The Republican nominees so far include former gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli, state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former state Sen. Ed Durr, talk radio host Bill Spadea, and candidates Robert Canfield, Jim Fazzone, Hans Herberg and Robert Bacon.