Trump Engages in New Jersey Gubernatorial Race as Election Day Approaches

With only a week and a half until Election Day, recent polls indicate that Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli is narrowing the lead of his Democratic opponent, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race. President Donald Trump is stepping in to support his Republican allies from the sidelines.

While he won’t be traveling to New Jersey for now, Trump is set to lead a conference call with Ciattarelli on Friday evening, just hours before the early voting kicks off. The Ciattarelli campaign made a social media announcement: “Join us for the Early Voting Eve Call with President Donald J. Trump! Friday, October 24th at 7pm!”

Ciattarelli has made multiple attempts to secure the governorship, nearly winning against Democratic Governor Phil Murphy four years ago, although many Republican voters did not turnout that year.

It appears that turnout for this election might be low, meaning it will be crucial to mobilize the base. There’s hope that the call with Trump, along with campaigning efforts from prominent Trump supporters like Vivek Ramaswamy and Congressman Byron Donald, could re-energize those MAGA supporters who typically avoid voting in off years.

Earlier this week, Trump took to social media to advocate for Ciattarelli, stating he’s “doing very well in the polls,” and urging New Jersey residents to support him: “Vote for Jack Ciattarelli. He will never let you down!”

Trump’s optimistic outlook regarding Ciattarelli’s chances seems justified. Despite New Jersey’s majority Democratic registration, polls from Fox News, Quinnipiac University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Rutgers-Eagleton University show that Ciattarelli has been closing the gap with Sherrill. Various surveys also indicate that results fall within the margin of error.

Asked about the close polls, Ciattarelli commented, “A lot of these polls are close, and since we’re the minority party, it’s oftentimes simpler for Republicans to get polled.”

New Jersey and Virginia stand as the only states holding gubernatorial races the year following presidential elections, making these contests highly scrutinized and seen as early indicators for the upcoming midterms.

This year’s elections are being perceived in part as a referendum on Trump’s divisive second-term agenda. Historically, while Democrats have dominated the political landscape in New Jersey, Republicans have been competitive in governor races, winning five out of the last ten.

Notably, despite Trump’s loss in New Jersey during the last presidential election, he only lost by a slim margin of six points—a marked improvement over his previous 16-point defeat.

Ciattarelli, a former CPA who transitioned into politics and garnered Trump’s endorsement earlier this year, won decisively in the Republican primary, which heavily centered around support for the former president.

“There are clearly many people throughout New Jersey who support the president’s job,” Ciattarelli mentioned recently.

Even though Trump isn’t on the ballot, the attention surrounding the New Jersey gubernatorial race is significant. In their last debate, Sherrill criticized Ciattarelli for aligning with Trump, asserting that he’s not showing the independence needed in a leader.

When asked if he identifies himself as part of the MAGA movement, Ciattarelli responded, “I’m part of the New Jersey movement,” but then endorsed Trump by saying, “I’d definitely give the president an A. I think he’s right in what he’s doing.”

Sherrill, on the other hand, expressed concern over Ciattarelli’s affiliation with Trump, emphasizing New Jersey’s need for a leader free from Trump’s influence.

Democrats could potentially energize their base and sway independents by linking Ciattarelli to Trump’s polarizing presidency. However, some believe that attacks from Sherrill might misfire.

As the race tightens, both candidates maintain a positive outlook. Sherrill pointed to a strong uptick in mail-in voting and emphasized the vastness of her volunteer program, indicating she is ready for early voting starting on the 25th.

On the campaign trail, Ciattarelli noted the enthusiastic response from supporters, stating that gaining the backing of Democratic mayors could be a signal that change is on the horizon and winning the election could facilitate that change.