Voters will decide Tuesday whether Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno or Democrat Phil Murphy will become New Jersey's 56th governor.

For those still familiarizing themselves with the two major-party candidates, are on the fence or simply want to learn more about where they stand on issues critical to New Jersey's future, here is a brief guide on their positions and who they are.

Kim Guadagno, Republican

Bio

Name: Kim Guadagno (pronounced Gwa-don-no)

Age: 58

Hometown: Monmouth Beach

Family: Husband, Michael, and children Kevin, 24; Michael, 21; and Anderson, 17.

Education: Political science degree from Ursinus College, 1980; law degree from American University, 1983.

Prior Experience: Lieutenant governor, 2010-present; Monmouth County Sheriff 2007-2010; Monmouth Beach commissioner, 2005-2007; assistant state attorney general, 1999-2001; assistant United States attorney for district of New Jersey, 1991-1999; United States Organized Crime Strike Force in Brooklyn,1988-1991.

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Top platform

Property taxes: Guadagno says lowering property tax bills is her No. 1 priority. She has proposed a property tax "circuit breaker" that would provide relief to middle-class homeowners. It would cap the school portion of a property tax bill at 5 percent of a household's income, with a maximum limit of $3,000 in savings. The plan has been widely criticized because it relies on about $1.5 billion in savings and revenue growth at a time when the state is struggling to meet its modest revenue projections. Guadagno says she will make tax relief a priority and find the money.

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Where she stands

Taxes: Opposes all tax increases. She has promised that, if elected, she will not run for a second term if she does not lower property taxes.

School Funding: Favors restructuring the school-funding formula. Says extra money going to over-funded school districts should be re-directed to property tax relief, which would prompt a legal challenge. Guadagno says she wants one, because it would require creating a "full, fleshed-out record" so political leaders can "find out what the facts are."

Marijuana: Favors decriminalizing marijuana but is opposed to legalizing it for recreational use.

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Climate change: Guadagno says she is "not a climate denier." And as a resident of the Jersey Shore, she said, "I strongly believe we must protect our environment by leading on things like renewable energy." She favors New Jersey re-joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade program that Gov. Chris Christie pulled out of, and said the state should "actively work to grow the green economy to create thousands of good-paying jobs."

Health care: Guadagno views the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement, as a "disaster." But she also does not believe the roughly 500,000 people in New Jersey who benefit from the health law should lose coverage. She said Congress must "pass a plan to ensure people can get their health care, cover pre-existing conditions and lower costs for consumers." She is against single-payer health care because, she said, it will lead to "dramatic tax increases, reduce the quality of care and force New Jersey doctors out of business."

Phil Murphy, Democrat

Bio

Age: 60

Hometown: Middletown

Family: Wife, Tammy, and children Josh, 19; Emma, 17; Charlie, 15; and Sam, 13.

Education: Economics degree from Harvard University, 1979; masters of business administration from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, 1983.

Prior Experience: U.S. ambassador to Germany, 2009 to 2013; Democratic National Committee finance chairman, 2006-2009; retired from Goldman Sachs in 2003; chaired New Jersey Benefits Task Force, 2005; board member NAACP, 180 Turning Lives Around, 2nd Floor teen helpline; founder policy organizations New Start New Jersey and New Way for New Jersey.

TAXES:Phil Murphy reports $4.6 million in income last year, paid 32% of it in taxes

Top platform

Public bank: Murphy has proposed that New Jersey becomes the second state in the nation to run a bank. North Dakota established its bank a century ago. Murphy's intention is to use the bank as a lending house for low-interest loans to students, businesses and municipalities. That money would then be re-invested in the state rather than companies that have no obligation to spend it here. Murphy's plan has many skeptics, including bankers, who chiefly worry that a state bank would remove liquidity from struggling community banks.

Clean energy: Murphy aims to transition New Jersey to 100 percent clean energy by 2050. He proposes doing so by rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, prioritizing and expanding solar energy, using offshore wind and increasing funding and incentives for energy efficiency.

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Where he stands

Taxes: He has said that "everything's on the table," but has committed to raising taxes on high-income earners and taxing the sale of marijuana if it is legalized. He has also said he's open to considering a special tax dedicated to NJ Transit. Murphy's campaign told the Observer that it plans on raising about $1.3 billion a year in new revenue from the taxes.

School Funding: Fully fund the formula established under Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.

Marijuana: Legalize for recreational use with sales taxed by state.

Climate change: Murphy has proposed a plan for New Jersey to transition to 100 percent clean energy by 2050. Like Guadagno, he would also re-join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. He's been endorsed by the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters, which calls him the "clean energy champ."

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Health care: Given the uncertainty in Washington over health care, Murphy has said that all options are on the table, including consideration of a Medicare-for-all system in New Jersey. "We're going to have to do what it takes," he has said. Murphy opposes attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and strip coverage of current Medicaid recipients. He said he intends to restore roughly $7.5 million in annual funding for Planned Parenthood that Christie routinely vetoed, and wants to lower "excessive" out-of-network costs that he says would help lower premiums.