NJ Gov Race Tightens; Early Voting Backs Democrats

The New Jersey gubernatorial contest has tightened, with recent polls putting Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill in a statistical tie as Election Day nears. New early‑vote and mail‑ballot data show Democrats outpacing Republicans — about 57% to 26% of roughly 635,000 ballots — leaving Republicans with an estimated raw‑vote gap of roughly 202,000 even as substantial voting remains. Ciattarelli has narrowed the race with a locality‑focused message on affordability, taxes, energy and safety and has attracted cross‑party local endorsements, including New Era Democrats and several municipal leaders. Former President Donald Trump is actively campaigning for Ciattarelli, including tele‑rallies attacking Sherrill, while high‑profile Democrats such as Barack Obama are mounting get‑out‑the‑vote efforts for Sherrill. With roughly 5% of voters still undecided and margins inside polls’ error, the outcome remains uncertain and could signal broader trends ahead of the 2026 midterms.