Nearly 1 million people in New Jersey have already cast their votes ahead of the gubernatorial election on Tuesday. While the results won’t be known until election night, recent data shows strong turnout among Democrats, with nearly 514,500 participating. Republicans are close behind at roughly 279,000, and about 177,000 unaffiliated or independent voters have also made their voices heard.
Analyst Micah Rasmussen notes that Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill seems to have the upper hand over Republican Jack Ciattarelli. However, he warns that the race is still competitive. “Ciattarelli needs a significant turnout from Republicans and some support from unaffiliated voters to catch up,” he said.
Ciattarelli, who voted on Friday, believes more Republicans are engaging than ever before. He is optimistic that he can win over the undecided voters—the ones who often tip the scales in New Jersey elections. “People are frustrated with the last four years,” he explained, criticizing Governor Phil Murphy’s policies and claiming Sherrill would be just another version of Murphy in office.
Sherrill has tried to distance herself from the governor, particularly regarding the surging energy costs in the state. “Prices have skyrocketed under his watch, and we need to fix that,” she stated.
In the lead-up to the election, notable figures have rallied for both candidates. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appeared at a press conference with Sherrill, while former President Barack Obama is scheduled to support her as well. Sherrill expressed optimism about the momentum from early voting, stating, “Things are looking really positive right now.”
On the other hand, Ciattarelli argues that the presence of big-name supporters does not guarantee victory. Former President Donald Trump has backed his campaign but has chosen not to visit New Jersey himself, a strategic decision according to Rasmussen. While Trump energizes supporters, he can also polarize voters, making his absence notable.
Recent statistics show that statewide voter engagement is at a high for this election cycle, reflecting a growing public interest in the outcome.
In this challenging political landscape, both candidates will continue to push hard as they near Election Day, aware that every vote counts.
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Mikie Sherrill, Jack Ciattarelli
