New Jersey
South Jersey will play a major role in New Jersey’s 2025 governor’s race
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The 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election was not supposed to be that close.
A week before the general election, polling consistently showed Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy with a solid lead over Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli.
On Election Day, Ciattarelli nearly pulled off an upset. But, Murphy managed to squeak through with 3% more votes in a low-turnout election, becoming the first Democrat since 1977 to win a second term.
In 2025, with Ciattarelli attempting his third run for governor, and former Senate President Steve Sweeney hoping his home base will propel him to the Democratic nomination, South Jersey is no longer a pit stop on the campaign trail. In fact, it could be the key to winning the general election.
Ciattarelli’s 2021 run stirred up Republican excitement
Political analysts credit a surge of voters in Republican-leaning counties for helping Ciattarelli get close to victory, particularly in South Jersey. The Republican was able to flip three counties that went for Murphy in 2017: Atlantic, Cumberland and Gloucester counties.
Four years ago, as he was doing a campaign stop at the New Italy American Society in Vineland, Cumberland County, Ciattarelli told the audience “no gubernatorial candidate has spent more time in South Jersey” than him. Vineland Mayor Anthony Fanucci said Ciattarelli has continued to visit the region since his last gubernatorial run.
“Jack has a special place in people’s hearts down here, because he’s paid more attention than anyone that I can remember in my history of being not just an elected official, but living in New Jersey,” he said.
Fanucci said he supported Ciattarelli in 2021 and is “gladly” endorsing him again this year. He said the former assemblyman took time to familiarize himself with issues of importance to South Jersey, such as tourism, agriculture, infrastructure and economic development, as well as many others.
“I know he won’t forget the south, let alone anywhere else in the state,” Fanucci added.
Before Ciattarelli, the last time the Rev. Benjamin Ocasio Sr. remembered a gubernatorial candidate visiting Vineland was when former Gov. Chris Christie was running for a second term in 2013. He feels throughout the years that other candidates have “forgotten that there is a South Jersey.”
Ocasio, pastor of the Rock of Salvation Church in Vineland, said he also saw Republican candidate Bill Spadea this year. But he would like to see statewide leaders visit the area more often, though understands their schedules being set in advance.
“Obviously, I get to see my mayor, and I get to see the city council, and they do try to pop in to different affairs,” he said.
New Jersey
Sherrill, Ciattarelli make their final push for votes in the race for New Jersey governor
WEST NEW YORK, New Jersey (WABC) — It is down to the wire in the race to become the next governor of New Jersey.
Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill campaigned in West New York on Sunday, shoring up support with Latinos.
“We have seen a great deal of enthusiasm across the state. It’s been really exciting, including events like this,” Sherrill said.
Some of that enthusiasm emanated from a major rally Saturday night with former President Barack Obama in Newark.
“The numbers in the vote by males in early voting look very, very good. And, you know, having President Obama here last night was kind of icing on the cake,” she said.
Turnout has been overwhelming. Between in-person early voting and mail-in ballots, nearly 1.2 million New Jerseyans have already cast their vote.
“At the end of the day, it’s all decided by the end of 8:00 on Tuesday. But we really like the numbers we see with regard to the VBS vote by mail ballots and the early voting,” Jack Ciattarelli, Republican Candidate NJ Governor, said.
Ciattarelli was joined by Congressman Mike Lawler in Middletown speaking with voters on Sunday.
“People are upset over eight years of Phil Murphy’s failed policies and the very strong impression that my opponent would just be more of the same, only worse,” Ciattarelli said.
He is also criss-crossing the state in a final push for votes.
“I hope the Democrats continue to make the same mistake over the next two days. They’ve been making for the past four months, talking all about Trump and blaming everything on Trump. The people in New Jersey are smarter than that. They want solutions. And that’s exactly what we’ve been giving them every day on the trail,” he argued.
Early voting is over. Polls open at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Election Day.
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New Jersey
New Jersey governor’s race: Jack Ciattarelli votes early; Mikie Sherrill to campaign with Obama
NEW JERSEY (WABC) — Democrat Mikie Sherrill is preparing for a campaign blitz this weekend and Republican Jack Ciattarelli cast his vote in the New Jersey gubernatorial election on Friday.
The energy was high and so was the optimism for Ciattarelli who voted early in Bridgewater. He has shifted to a full court press of campaigning over the next four days until Election Day.
“We try to touch four counties every day, there’s eight stops today, we’ve got rallies all throughout the state, reminding people that we’re still in the midst of early voting,” Ciattarelli said. “Two more days after today and reminding people to don’t wait till Tuesday. Anything can happen.”
Turnout is high for early voting and mail-in ballots as nearly one million New Jerseyans have already voted.
“I am a strong law and order, yet compassion for our citizens. I think we could do both with Jack,” voter Claudia Levin Bateman said.
“New Jerseyans are fed up, paying high electrical bills, paying taxes, fees, tolls, everything keeps going up. Our government’s a mess. We need to sort of rally to come in and save New Jersey,” voter Phillipe Pedroso said.
This is the second most expensive gubernatorial race in the state’s history.
Sherrill’s campaign has edged out Ciattarelli in fundraising — $51 million to $47 million.
That is mirrored by campaign spending. Sherrill has spent $43 million and Ciattarelli has spent $39.7 million.
“I feel great, I only have ’21 to compare it to, I really thought I was going to win that race,” Ciattarelli said. “You know how close we came? This one feels very different. Energy up and down. The state is electric. The reception in the minority communities across states been overwhelming positive.”
Sherrill has also been on the campaign trail all week and former President Barack Obama will headline a rally for her Saturday in Newark.
“To me, centering a campaign and what you are hearing on the ground, cutting out the noise sometimes from what’s going on online or elsewhere, but really centering on the very people that you want to serve is incredibly important and I think incredibly successful,” Sherrill said.
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