NJ governor election: Sherrill and Ciattarelli face off in close race as Trump, Obama weigh in

New Jersey voters volition determine Tuesday whether to elite Democratic campaigner Mikie Sherrill oregon Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli arsenic their adjacent governor.

The contention — 1 of conscionable 2 U.S. gubernatorial elections this twelvemonth — is seen arsenic a bellwether for however President Donald Trump's all-consuming beingness is affecting enactment for Republicans nationally.

The effect besides could assistance signifier the electoral scenery for the 2026 midterms, erstwhile Democrats anticipation to retake power of astatine slightest 1 enclosure of Congress.

The erstwhile U.S. Navy chopper aviator Sherrill has represented New Jersey's 11th legislature territory successful the House of Representatives since 2019.

Ciattarelli is simply a businessman who has tally for politician twice before.

The race's victor volition win existent Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat who is finishing his 2nd and last term.

While Democrats acold outnumber Republicans successful New Jersey, immoderate polls starring up to Tuesday's predetermination showed a neck-and-neck contention betwixt the candidates.

But aboriginal voting totals earlier Election Day showed Democrats gathering a coagulated turnout advantage, according to DecisionDeskHQ Data Science Director Michael Pruser.

Trump mislaid New Jersey to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris successful the 2024 election. But helium drew a larger stock of the ballot than helium had received successful the 2016 election, partially by making inroads with the state's Latino communities.

Sherrill courted those voters, who person traditionally favored Democrats, successful portion by speaking Spanish connected the run way and successful TV ads.

She has besides tally a run centered connected affordability, hewing to Democrats' broader messaging strategy.

Ciattarelli, whom Trump endorsed, ran a run that echoed overmuch of the president's MAGA agenda.

The predetermination comes successful the mediate of a protracted national authorities shutdown, for which Americans blasted Republicans and Trump much than Democrats, polls show.

Both candidates raised implicit $20 million and spent astir $17 cardinal heading into the last agelong of the race.

Despite suffering demoralizing losses successful 2024 and grappling with persistently debased support ratings, Democrats person reasons to beryllium optimistic astir the 2026 cycle.

Trump's support ratings person fallen precipitously since the commencement of his word and are little than wherever they stood astatine this constituent successful his archetypal term, according to multiple polls.

Anti-Trump sentiment has been a galvanizing unit for Democrats successful the past and present, notably astatine the caller "No Kings" protests that drew millions of participants crossed the country.

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