New Jersey Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli is heating up down the stretch, boosted by a live tele-town hall Friday where President Donald Trump dialed in to rally supporters. Early voting begins Saturday—which, yes, is when momentum actually matters.
From the call, Trump took direct aim at Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill, warning what her policies would mean for Garden State families:
“Mikie, as they call her — the only thing she’s got is an unusual name, other than that she’s terrible,” he said, per Politico. He added that Sherrill’s energy policies would send prices soaring, making New Jersey “even more expensive than it already is.” In case that wasn’t clear enough, the president said a Sherrill governorship would send the state into a “death spiral.” Subtle? No. Accurate about blue-state bills? Ask your utility company.
Trump contrasted Sherrill’s agenda with Ciattarelli’s conservative energy plan, predicting a GOP win and pledging to campaign for Jack after returning from Asia:
“Jack is going to be great and he’s going to cut your energy bills in half, and she’s going to double your energy bills… on energy alone, I think Jack should win,” he said, according to the Associated Press.
On Saturday, Ciattarelli told Fox & Friends his campaign has “racked up at least 12” Democratic endorsements in New Jersey. When Democrats start crossing the aisle, it’s usually not because the status quo is working.
Election-watcher Adam Turner sees hopeful signs for Republicans despite the RCP average showing Sherrill 48.1% to Ciattarelli 44%—a spread he notes is inflated by at least one weak pollster with a habit of underestimating GOP vote. Turner also points to nearly a dozen prominent local and state Democrat officials backing Ciattarelli, labor unions flipping from their prior support of Phil Murphy, and Dem concern about Black turnout after 2024 showed willingness to vote Republican. Translation: the map isn’t as blue as the consultants say.
Backing up the ground game, Ciattarelli dropped a sharp new ad with voiceover by New Jersey native Kelsey Grammer—because when Republicans bring authentic star power to a conservative message, it lands. Even Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) says New Jerseyans are “sick and tired” of Democrat-driven decline. Hard to argue when families are budgeting around energy bills like they’re car payments.
Bottom line: Trump’s live assist, Dem crossovers, union movement, a tightening data picture, and a home-state voice in the ad mix give Ciattarelli what campaigns dream of in the final stretch: BIG MO. Keep the focus on lower costs, safer streets, and energy sanity, and New Jersey just might deliver the upset playbook—Jersey style.
