Trump’s Endorsement May Boost Ciattarelli in Final Stretch of New Jersey Governor’s Race

As the clock winds down to Election Day in New Jersey, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is embracing support from former President Donald Trump in what has become an increasingly competitive race against Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill. With fewer than three weeks remaining, multiple sources have confirmed that Trump will hold tele-rallies for Ciattarelli, potentially energizing the Republican Party’s base in what’s expected to be a low-turnout election. “There’s obviously a whole lot of people across the state of New Jersey that are pleased with the job the president’s doing,” Ciattarelli said in an exclusive Fox News Digital interview, highlighting Trump’s efforts to halt wind farms off the Jersey Shore, fight New York’s congestion pricing, and secure the southern border as resonating with Garden State voters.

The race appears to be tightening according to a new Quinnipiac University poll showing Sherrill at 50% support among likely voters, with Ciattarelli trailing at 44%. This six-point gap represents a slight narrowing from the eight-point lead Sherrill held in September’s survey. The poll also indicated Ciattarelli with a slight edge in voter enthusiasm, though Sherrill maintains higher favorability ratings overall. For Ciattarelli, who’s making his third bid for governor after nearly upsetting incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Murphy four years ago, Trump’s support could prove crucial in motivating infrequent voters to cast ballots in this off-year election.

Though New Jersey leans Democratic in most federal and state legislative races, Republicans have historically remained competitive in gubernatorial contests, winning five of the past ten elections. Trump himself made significant inroads in the state during the 2020 presidential election, losing by only six percentage points compared to his 16-point deficit four years earlier. When pressed during the campaign’s final debate about his alignment with the MAGA movement, Ciattarelli described himself as “part of a New Jersey movement” while still giving Trump’s presidential performance an “A” rating. This prompted Sherrill, a Naval Academy graduate and former federal prosecutor, to respond, “I think that tells us all we need to know about who Jack Ciattarelli’s supporting. I give him an F right now.”

As one of only two gubernatorial races taking place this year (along with Virginia), New Jersey’s contest has garnered outsized national attention and is widely viewed as a political barometer ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. To a large degree, both races are being interpreted as referendum on Trump’s unprecedented second term agenda. Ciattarelli’s campaign strategist Chris Russell expressed gratitude for the president’s support, saying, “We’re appreciative of all the help we’ve received from the president and his team so far, and grateful for any support they provide down the stretch.” While there’s currently no indication Trump will appear in person with Ciattarelli, the tele-rallies could help mobilize crucial Republican voters.

The Democratic National Committee has seized on the Trump-Ciattarelli connection, with DNC Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman claiming that Ciattarelli was “desperate” and that “this election comes down to one major truth: Jack is 100% for Trump, while Mikie Sherrill is 100% for New Jersey.” Throughout the campaign, Democrats have worked to tie Ciattarelli closely to Trump, with Sherrill charging during their final debate that her GOP rival had “shown zero signs of standing up to this president. In fact, the president himself called Jack 100% MAGA, and he’s shown every sign of being that.” These attacks reflect the Democrats’ strategy of making the race as much about Trump as about state-level issues.

For his part, Ciattarelli has attempted to balance embracing Trump’s support while maintaining his own identity, telling Fox News Digital last month that he was “really pleased that the White House has offered to help us in any way that we see fit,” and that his campaign was “in constant communication with the White House about different ways they can help.” This delicate balancing act reflects the complex political calculation facing Republican candidates in blue-leaning states like New Jersey, where Trump remains a polarizing figure but still commands strong loyalty among the Republican base. As the race enters its final weeks, both campaigns are intensifying their efforts to mobilize supporters and persuade undecided voters in what could be a closer-than-expected finish to New Jersey’s gubernatorial contest.

The outcome of this election, along with the Virginia governor’s race, will be closely watched as potential indicators of the national political environment heading into the crucial midterm election cycle. For Democrats hoping to maintain their momentum and for Republicans looking to build on Trump’s improved 2020 performance in New Jersey, the stakes couldn’t be higher. As Ciattarelli looks to close the gap with Sherrill in these final critical days, Trump’s involvement could prove to be either a decisive advantage or a liability in a state that has shown increasing competitiveness despite its overall Democratic lean.