>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
That gender gap is just one piece of a much larger story. Sherrill, a former Navy pilot and four-term congresswoman, has been fighting tooth and nail to protect the Democrats’ grip on Trenton. Her opponent, Jack Ciattarelli — a businessman and former state Assemblyman — has been here before. In 2021, he came within striking distance of unseating Gov. Phil Murphy, stunning Democrats with his late surge. This time, Ciattarelli has reloaded his campaign with sharper messaging, stronger grassroots support, and a boost from President Donald Trump himself.
Trump recently joined Ciattarelli on a telephone town hall, throwing his full support behind the Republican contender. The former president’s involvement has injected fresh energy into the race, rallying conservatives who believe New Jersey’s deep-blue label is starting to fade.
Money isn’t an issue for either side. Both Sherrill and Ciattarelli have pulled in nearly $20 million each, funding nonstop TV ads, digital blitzes, and last-minute ground operations across the state. With every dollar spent, the pressure mounts — and neither candidate is showing signs of backing down.
National political observers are watching New Jersey closely, especially since it’s one of only two states holding a governor’s election this November. Historically, voters in the Garden State tend to elect governors from the opposite party of whoever occupies the White House. But that streak ended in 2021 when Democrat Phil Murphy secured a narrow victory while Joe Biden was president. Republicans are now hoping to restore that pattern — and send a message to Washington that blue states aren’t as safe as Democrats think.
But this race isn’t just about the governor’s mansion. Every seat in New Jersey’s General Assembly — all 80 of them — is also on the ballot. Democrats currently hold a 52-28 advantage, but the political winds could be shifting. Even small changes could signal a seismic realignment in the state’s political landscape.
New Jersey may have a reputation for leaning blue, but recent elections tell a different story. Vice President Kamala Harris managed only 52% of the vote in 2024 — a steep drop from Joe Biden’s 57% in 2020. Meanwhile, Donald Trump shocked analysts by flipping five counties: Atlantic, Cumberland, Gloucester, Morris, and even Passaic — a county Biden had won by 17 points just four years earlier.
Ciattarelli carried four of those same counties in 2021, narrowly losing in Passaic. If he can pull them all together this time, Democrats could find themselves facing a political earthquake in one of their supposed strongholds.
With Election Day around the corner, the question is no longer whether New Jersey can turn red — it’s whether voters are ready to make history and deliver the ultimate upset in the bluest of battlegrounds.
