Democrats Flock To Key Election
Republican Jack Ciattarelli surges in the polls as voters reject high taxes and Biden-era inflation
Democrats are in full-blown panic mode in New Jersey. With Election Day just around the corner, once-safe candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill is now locked in a neck-and-neck battle with Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a lifelong Garden State conservative running on lower taxes, safer communities, and restoring common-sense leadership.
In a sign of how worried the left has become, former President Barack Obama and other top Democrats are parachuting into the state to rally support. It’s a last-minute scramble that underscores one thing — the Democrat hold on New Jersey is slipping fast.
Polls Show Race Dead Even
Recent surveys show the race tightening dramatically. An Emerson College/PIX11/The Hill poll found Sherrill leading by just one point, 49 % to 48 %, well within the margin of error.
Other polls from Suffolk University, Quinnipiac, and Fox News confirm the same pattern — what once looked like a comfortable Democrat advantage has turned into a nail-biter.
For decades, no political party has won three straight terms in New Jersey’s governor’s mansion. That historical trend could soon haunt Democrats again.
Republican Momentum Builds
Ciattarelli, who nearly unseated Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021, is seeing new energy from conservatives, independents, and suburban voters frustrated with skyrocketing property taxes, high utility bills, and rising grocery prices.
He’s also attracting high-profile conservative support. Vivek Ramaswamy, former GOP presidential candidate, and Jack Posobiec, a popular commentator, have both campaigned for Ciattarelli — a clear sign that national conservatives see New Jersey as winnable.
“Anybody in New Jersey knows the real issues are property taxes, affordability, and the economy — not another anti-Trump campaign,” said Republican strategist Jeanette Hoffman. “People are tired of the same old Democrat playbook.”
Democrats Rely on Mail-In Voting Edge
Democrats are banking on a heavy advantage in mail-in ballots to save Sherrill. As of late October, they held roughly a 221,000-vote lead in early voting and mail-in ballots. Analysts predict that margin could grow to 240,000 by Election Day, meaning Republicans will need a massive in-person turnout to overcome the Democrat machine.
Political observers say Democrats’ early-voting “firewall” may not hold if Republican enthusiasm stays high — especially among seniors, small-business owners, and middle-class families hit hardest by inflation.
Obama Steps In as Democrats Fear Collapse
In a desperate push to energize the base, Democrats are rolling out some of their biggest names — Obama, Sen. Ruben Gallego, and Pete Buttigieg among them — to campaign for Sherrill. But critics say the appearances are doing little to calm fears that Democrats have lost touch with working-class voters.
“Bringing in Obama isn’t going to fix New Jersey’s sky-high property taxes or electric bills,” said State Sen. Michael Testa (R). “People want results, not political theater.”
Trump Voters Could Decide the Race
Republicans are counting on a big Election Day surge — a pattern seen nationwide since 2016. “We know Republicans prefer to vote in person,” Testa added. “If conservatives and independents show up, Jack Ciattarelli can win this.”
Even local leaders in traditionally Democrat areas are noticing the shift. Passaic Mayor Hector Lora, who oversees a largely Hispanic city that voted for Trump in 2024, said Ciattarelli’s momentum is real:
“He’s working hard, he’s listening, and people are responding.”
Voters Want Change, Not More Taxes
For many New Jersey residents, this election is about common-sense leadership, affordability, and accountability — not partisan spin. After years of rising costs under Democrat rule, voters appear ready for a course correction.
“New Jersey isn’t going hard-right,” Mayor Lora admitted, “but people do want us to come back to the center.” That center increasingly looks conservative — and that spells trouble for Democrats banking on fear of Trump to carry them through.
📰 Bottom Line
With Obama and other Democrats flooding New Jersey to rescue a faltering campaign, the governor’s race has turned into a referendum on failed liberal policies, high taxes, and runaway inflation.
If turnout holds strong among conservatives and independents, Republicans could score a major upset — and send shockwaves through the Biden-era Democratic establishment.
