Trump stepped in for Ciatarelli as polls tighten in New Jersey’s governor’s race

With just two weeks to go until Election Day, the latest polls suggest Republican candidate Jack Ciatarelli is closing the gap on Democratic challenger Rep. Mikey Sherrill in the key race for governor of New Jersey, the presidency. Donald Trump Stepping in to push his GOP friend over the finish line.

Trump, taking to social media, claimed Ciatarelli was “doing very well in the polls” and urged his supporters in the Garden State to “Vote for Jack Ciatarelli – he will never let you down!”

Trump has good reason to be optimistic that Ciatarelli, who is making his third run for governor of the Garden State and nearly upset Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy four years ago, can win in blue-leaning. New Jersey.

In a state where registered Democrats still outnumber Republicans despite GOP enrollment growth this decade, three polls released last week — from Fox News, Quinnipiac University and Fairleigh Dickinson University — indicated Ciatarelli is closing the gap with the Democratic gubernatorial nominee.

The battle for governor could be a photo finish in this closely watched race

New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Republican candidate Mickey Sherrill, right, and Republican candidate Jack Ciatarelli on stage at the start of their second and final debate on October 8, 2025, in New Brunswick, NJ. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News Digital)

“The energy across the state is electric. The reception in minority communities has been great, and with the support of prominent Democrats, that tells you everything you need to know about the people of New Jersey. Change is needed. And this is the election. Change,” Jack Ciatarelli said in an interview last weekend.Fox News Sunday.”

New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states to hold gubernatorial showdowns in the year after a presidential election, and the contests traditionally draw wide attention and are seen as political barometers ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

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And this year, they’re being seen as a ballot referendum on Trump’s unprecedented and explosive second-term agenda.

President Donald Trump, seen speaking during a campaign event on May 11, 2024, at Wildwood Beach in Wildwood, New Jersey, headlines a tele-rally for 2025 Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciatarelli in the Garden State. (Getty Images via Hannah Beier/Bloomberg)

Democrats have long dominated federal and state legislative elections in blue-leaning New Jersey, while Republicans have been very competitive in gubernatorial races, winning five of the last 10 elections.

And Trump made big gains in New Jersey in last year’s presidential election, losing the state by just six percentage points, a big improvement over his 16-point deficit four years ago.

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While it’s still unclear whether Trump will physically hit the campaign trail in New Jersey sometime in the next two weeks, Fox News confirmed that the president will hold a tele-rally with Ciatarelli. election day.

Last week, Ciatarelli joined a jam-packed dinner stop in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, Vivek RamaswamyThe MAGA rock star who is running for governor next year in his home state of Ohio.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy of Ohio headlines a campaign event for New Jersey GOP nominee Gov. Jack Ciatarelli on October 15, 2025, in Saddle Brook, NJ. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

And this week another famous Republican politician in the MAGA world is headed to New Jersey. Rep. of Florida. Byron Donalds, the president’s top House aide, who has Trump’s support as he runs for governor of Florida next year, will work with Ciatarelli on Wednesday.

Stops by high-profile surrogates and Trump’s tele-rallies could help Ciatarelli energize MAGA supporters, many of whom are low-propensity voters who often skip casting ballots in non-presidential election years.

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Sherrill, a Naval Academy graduate who flew helicopters during her military service and was first elected to Congress in 2018, is getting plenty of support on the campaign trail. This past weekend she was joined by two big names in the party – Govt. Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer and Maryland’s Wes Moore – considered potential 2028 White House contenders.

Rep. Mickey Sherrill, Democratic gubernatorial candidate from New Jersey, takes questions from reporters after a debate on October 8, 2025 in New Brunswick, NJ. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

And Sherrill’s campaign announced Tuesday that the nation’s most popular Democrat — former President Barack Obama — will headline a rally with her in Newark, NJ, on Nov. 1, the last weekend before Election Day.

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But Ciattarelli’s campaign has claimed that Obama’s upcoming appearance on the New Jersey campaign trail is a sign of Democrats’ weakness.

“National and New Jersey Democrats are absolutely terrified. At this point, we expect them to import anyone who can excite the Democrats because Mickey Sherrill doesn’t excite anyone,” Ciatarelli campaign chief strategist Chris Russell argued in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Former President Barack Obama speaks at the Democratic National Convention, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin added to the concern, commenting on why Republicans are excited about the New Jersey showdown.

“New Jersey is the best place, probably, for Donald Trump to stop the Democratic momentum — or at least slow the Democratic momentum that we’ve seen this year,” Martin said recently. Political interview.

But the DNC announced Tuesday that it is already ramping up, pouring more money into the New Jersey Democratic Coordinated Campaign, which already tops $3 million in the Garden State.

“This November will set the tone for years to come, and this is our moment to show Donald Trump and the Republicans that their time in power is coming to an end,” Martin emphasized.

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New Jersey traditionally elects a governor from the party out of power in the White House, which this year will be on the Democrats’ side.

But Garden State voters haven’t elected a governor of the same party in three consecutive elections in more than a century and a half, which would favor Republicans.

One of those political trends will be derailed in two weeks.