As the New Jersey gubernatorial race approaches Election Day, both Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill and Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli claim to be in strong positions, setting the stage for a highly competitive showdown.
BELLEVILLE, N.J. – The race for New Jersey governor is heating up as both major party nominees prepare for a potentially close finish. Democratic nominee Rep. Mikie Sherrill expressed optimism about her campaign’s prospects, stating, “Our polling’s looking good. I think we’re feeling really good right now,” during a recent event in northern New Jersey.
With just over a week remaining until Election Day, recent public opinion polls indicate that Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli is closing the gap with Sherrill. This election marks one of only two gubernatorial contests taking place in the nation this year.
“I think we’re in a great position,” Ciattarelli remarked in a Fox News interview following a diner stop in Linden, N.J. Despite New Jersey’s Democratic majority, recent surveys from Fox News, Quinnipiac University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Rutgers-Eagleton show Ciattarelli gaining ground in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.
Ciattarelli noted that many polls indicate a tight race, emphasizing that Republicans often face underrepresentation in polling due to their minority status in the state. “And when you have the endorsement of Democratic mayors across the state, it says people want change. That’s exactly what we’re going to deliver when we win this race,” he asserted.
Throughout the campaign, Ciattarelli has actively engaged with voters across the Garden State, drawing enthusiastic crowds as he approaches the final stretch. With early voting set to begin soon, he is encouraging supporters to participate. “Early voting starts this Saturday. We turn out, we win. Let’s finish strong,” he urged.
Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a tele-rally with Ciattarelli ahead of Election Day, while prominent figures from the MAGA movement, including Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida gubernatorial hopeful Rep. Byron Donalds, are also rallying support for him. Donalds remarked, “Jack’s been running a great campaign. I’ve been watching it from down in the Sunshine State. But it’s about winning. We got to help everybody get across the line.”
Patrick Cassio, former chair of the Rahway GOP, emphasized the importance of mobilizing Trump supporters, noting that many of them do not vote for other candidates. He pointed out that in the previous election cycle, approximately 400,000 Republicans did not cast their votes. “So, think about that. If he [Ciattarelli] picks up half of that, he wins. The math is pretty simple,” Cassio explained.
Ciattarelli, who is making his third consecutive bid for the governorship after a near upset against Murphy four years ago, believes the dynamics of this election are different. “Because of the closeness of that race in ’21, people are paying closer attention this time around,” he said.
In contrast, Sherrill criticized Ciattarelli as a “kind of a perennial candidate.” A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and military veteran, Sherrill was first elected to Congress in 2018 and has been actively campaigning with notable figures. Last weekend, she was joined by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, both of whom are considered potential contenders for the 2028 presidential election. Additionally, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro are expected to support her campaign in the coming days.
Sherrill’s campaign recently announced that former President Barack Obama, one of the most popular Democrats in the country, will headline a rally with her in Newark on November 1, just days before the election.
Despite facing criticism from some Republicans and political analysts regarding her campaign’s energy, Sherrill highlighted the strength of her get-out-the-vote efforts. “We’re seeing great returns on the vote by mail. We’ll start early voting on the 25th, which we’re really excited about. We’re seeing a ton of energy on the ground,” she said.
Sherrill also emphasized that her campaign boasts “the biggest volunteer field program that anyone in New Jersey has ever run. We are getting to the right doors, and I’m really excited about what we’re gonna see.”
As both candidates ramp up their efforts in the final days leading to the election, the outcome remains uncertain, with both sides claiming momentum in this closely watched race.
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