CLIFTON, N.J. — LeRoy Jones Jr., the New Jersey Democratic Party Chairman, has acknowledged that the state has become a “battleground state.” This comes as polls indicate a tight race between him and Republican Jack Ciatarelli, while he faces challenges from U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill.
In a speech that leaned more towards national issues than state-specific ones, Jones stated, “Thank you for joining us in New Jersey, the heart of our democracy, because this is a battleground state.”
He emphasized, “New Jersey is a battleground state in this case because we’re fighting for the future, we’re fighting for affordability, we’re fighting for democracy,” addressing the audience with an urgent tone.
Both Jones and Sherrill were rallying in Clifton, New Jersey, which is located in Passaic County. This county stood out when President Trump unexpectedly lost there last November, a point that might have gone unnoticed due to sound issues in the venue.
The rally featured several Democratic figures, including Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Rep. Nellie Paugh (D-N.J.), along with other local Democrats.
However, when it was Sherrill’s turn at the Elks Lodge, she took a different stance. Contradicting Jones, she stated, “New Jersey is a blue state.” She further asserted, “The problem is, New Jersey is not a red state. New Jersey is not a purple state. In this case, New Jersey is a blue state.”
Though Sherrill did not mention Ciatarelli directly, her critique made it clear where her sentiments lay, focusing her remarks on Trump instead.
Jones, who has led the state Democratic Party since 2021, raised eyebrows earlier this year during a Democratic National Committee call where he emphasized the need to better connect with Black voters, stating, “As Black people, not just Black chairs, we have to do better,” a sentiment reported by the Associated Press.
New Jersey has shown surprising electoral competitiveness recently. For instance, Ciatarelli came within about three points of Governor Phil Murphy (D) in the last election, far exceeding expectations set by polls.
In the most recent elections, Trump lost New Jersey to former Vice President Kamala Harris by around six points, a significant decrease from his earlier 16-point loss in 2020.
Campaigning in Passaic County, where both Sherrill and Jones visited, raised particular concerns. In previous elections, Trump lost this county decisively, by around 22 points in 2016, by 16 points in 2020, and had a slight reversal in 2024, losing by less than one percentage point.
Currently, Sherrill holds a slim lead of 3.3 points over Ciatarelli, according to a recent poll.
