As we get closer to Election Day, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is making a significant investment in the New Jersey gubernatorial race. They are apparently concerned that Republican candidate Jack Ciatarelli might defeat the current embattled Democrat, Mikie Sherrill.
On Tuesday, the DNC revealed plans to allocate around $500,000 towards off-year campaigns in New Jersey, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, although they haven’t specified how much will specifically support New Jersey.
Supporters of Ciatarelli interpret this spending as a signal that Democrats are anxious about their chances in New Jersey. “They only have $12 million left in their war chest,” remarked Alex Wilkes, a Republican consultant from New Jersey who previously worked with Ciatarelli during his 2021 run. “If they have to dig through the couch cushions to spend their last ‘dime’ on her, it shows they’re pretty desperate.”
It’s still uncertain how much of that $500,000 will actually make its way to New Jersey, where the DNC has already invested at least $3 million in total. This marks their largest investment for a New Jersey off-year race to date.
In a broader context, the Democratic Governors Association has spent around $20 million on advertising, compared to the Republican Governors Association’s $6 million, showing a significant disparity in campaign funding.
The latest financial boost from the DNC will focus on deploying field staff across the three states, aiming to connect with voters and key races for 2024.
“At the DNC, there is no such thing as an off year because every election matters,” stated DNC President Ken Martin. He emphasized that they are ready to show Trump and the Republican Party that their influence is dwindling. “The stakes are high. For the next two weeks, we’ll be fighting for every vote.”
Virginia also holds its gubernatorial race in an off-year cycle, but Sherrill’s former roommate, Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger, appears to be in a stronger position based on poll results. Pennsylvania has three Democratic state Supreme Court justices up for election in November.
Among these races, New Jersey appears to be causing the most concern for Democrats. Sherrill is currently leading by 4 percentage points in the latest polls.
In the previous gubernatorial election, Ciatarelli narrowly lost, and some recent surprising polls, including one from Emerson College, show a tight race, even giving him a slight edge in one instance. Still, the majority of polls indicate Sherrill has the advantage.
To help rally support, prominent Democratic figures, including former President Barack Obama, will be campaigning for Sherrill this weekend in Newark. Additionally, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Elissa Slotkin are also stepping in to support her.
On the other hand, President Trump is fully backing Ciatarelli.
