{"id":2491023,"date":"2025-09-25T12:40:01","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T16:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nj-gubernatorial-race-in-dead-heat-with-less-than-two-months-to-go\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T12:42:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T16:42:15","slug":"nj-gubernatorial-race-in-dead-heat-with-less-than-two-months-to-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nj-gubernatorial-race-in-dead-heat-with-less-than-two-months-to-go\/","title":{"rendered":"NJ gubernatorial race in dead heat with less than two months to go"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnj-gubernatorial-race-in-dead-heat-with-less-than-two-months-to-go%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2491023&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The New Jersey gubernatorial race is highly competitive as a recent Emerson college poll shows Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill adn Republican Jack Ciattarelli tied at 43% each, with less than two months until the election. Sherrill leads among younger voters, while Ciattarelli is favored by voters over 50. the race is viewed as a key indicator of voter sentiment toward President Donald Trump&#8217;s policies and the Democratic Party&#8217;s ability to recover after the 2024 elections. Despite Trump&#8217;s low approval in New Jersey,the state showed increased support for him in 2024 compared to 2020,complicating the electoral dynamics.<\/p>\n<p>Sherrill,representing New Jersey&#8217;s 11th District since 2018,runs an establishment campaign opposing Trump,attempting to link Ciattarelli to the former president despite Ciattarelli&#8217;s past criticisms of Trump.Ciattarelli capitalizes on voter frustration with outgoing Democratic Governor Phil Murphy and has earned important endorsements, including from the new Jersey police union.<\/p>\n<p>The race&#8217;s main issues include energy policy, the economy, and national political influences. Rising energy costs have become a central debate topic, with both candidates blaming each other&#8217;s parties. A Quinnipiac poll found Sherrill slightly ahead on handling electricity costs. Other factors such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-three-big-questions-that-lie-ahead-for-the-new-farm-bill\/\" title=\"What are the key questions for the new Farm Bill?\">potential government shutdowns<\/a> and GOP Medicaid reforms could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/swiss-billionaire-backed-dark-money-group-sent-millions-to-biden-and-liberal-causes\/\" title=\"Swiss billionaire-backed dark money group sent millions to Biden and liberal causes\">influence voter decisions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While the Emerson poll shows a tie, RealClearPolitics&#8217; average still has Sherrill leading by 8.5 points. Similar closely watched gubernatorial contests in states like Virginia also highlight the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnn-blames-republicans-for-attempted-left-wing-assassination-of-supreme-court-justice-brett-kavanaugh-2\/\" title=\"CNN Blames Republicans For Attempted Left-Wing Assassination Of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh\">political climate leading<\/a> into 2025 elections. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">New Jersey gubernatorial race down to wire as new poll shows Sherrill and Ciattarelli tied<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2240133\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A new poll shows <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Jersey&rsquo;s<\/a> gubernatorial candidates, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, locked in a dead heat with less than two months to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2025-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">election<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/emersoncollegepolling.com\/new-jersey-2025-poll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">survey<\/a> from Emerson College, its first of the governor&rsquo;s race, released Thursday, found both Sherrill and Ciattarelli polling at 43%. It found Sherrill leading with young voters and voters in their 40s, while Ciattarelli leads among voters over 50 years old.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3823709\/nyc-republican-curtis-sliwa-cuomo-bribe-mayor-race\/\">NYC Republican mayoral hopeful Sliwa says Cuomo camp tried to bribe him to exit race<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3822119\/new-jersey-police-union-backs-jack-ciattarelli-governor-after-endorsing-phil-murphy\/\">NJ police union backs Ciattarelli for governor after endorsing Murphy in 2016<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3821900\/republican-jason-dickerson-wins-special-election-in-georgia-state-senate-race\/\">Republican Jason Dickerson wins special election in Georgia state Senate race<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>New Jersey&rsquo;s gubernatorial contest will serve as a temperature check on President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> policies and the effectiveness of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Democrats<\/a> to bounce back and regain voters&rsquo; trust after the 2024 election.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>    <iframe title=\"New Jersey Gubernatorial Race Polling\" aria-label=\"Line chart\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-jYl5a\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/jYl5a\/1\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"441\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";r.style.height=d}}})}(); <\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Though Trump&rsquo;s approval rating is underwater in New Jersey, per the poll, Democrats are unlikely to be able to solely rely on the president&rsquo;s dwindling numbers, given that the state swung 10 points in his favor during the 2024 election. He lost New Jersey by 6 points, a significant boost compared to the 10 points he lost by in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Sherrill has represented New Jersey&rsquo;s 11th District since 2018 and is running a more establishment campaign compared to her progressive primary challengers and fellow House colleagues. Still, the congresswoman has largely positioned herself on an anti-Trump platform, and she continues to try to tie Ciattarelli, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3434915\/jack-ciattarelli-trump-agenda-third-run-new-jersey-governor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">one-time Trump critic<\/a>, to the president.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ciattarelli is banking on the fact that New Jersey residents are ready to move away from outgoing Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and decades of Democratic lawmaking in the state. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3822119\/new-jersey-police-union-backs-jack-ciattarelli-governor-after-endorsing-phil-murphy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">snagged a key endorsement<\/a> from the New Jersey police union, which backed Murphy during his first gubernatorial campaign.<\/p>\n<p>But the Republican has had difficulty breaking Sherrill&rsquo;s lead in polls until Thursday. An August poll from Rutgers University&rsquo;s Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling found Sherrill with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3777407\/jack-ciattarelli-struggles-break-mikie-sherrill-lead-new-jersey-governors-race-poll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">9-point lead<\/a> over Ciattarelli, 44% to 35% among likely voters.<\/p>\n<p><em>RealClearPolitics&rsquo;s <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >polling average shows<\/a> that, despite the dead heat from Emerson College&rsquo;s poll, Sherrill still has an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/governor\/general\/2025\/new-jersey\/sherrill-vs-ciattarelli\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">8.5-point lead<\/a> over Ciattarelli, 47.3% to 40.8%.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The race will likely come down to energy policy, the economy, and the effect of Trump and the Republicans&rsquo; work in Washington. Rising energy costs have emerged as a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3817775\/energy-focal-point-new-jersey-gubernatorial-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> focal point<\/a> in this year&rsquo;s election, with the candidates blaming the other party for the problem.<\/p>\n<p>A poll conducted by Quinnipiac University in early September found more likely New Jersey voters backing Sherrill over Ciattarelli, <a href=\"https:\/\/poll.qu.edu\/poll-release?releaseid=3931\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">42% to 40%<\/a>, when asked which candidate would do a better job of handling electricity costs in the state. The poll&rsquo;s margin of error was 3.9 points.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3817775\/energy-focal-point-new-jersey-gubernatorial-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ENERGY POLICY EMERGES AS FOCAL POINT IN NEW JERSEY GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ramifications from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3823228\/democrats-trump-dig-in-government-shutdown-demands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">possible government shutdown<\/a>, as well as the GOP&rsquo;s &ldquo;big, beautiful bill&rdquo; whose reforms to Medicaid could affect millions&rsquo; healthcare plans, could also sway voters heading into the 2025 gubernatorial election.<\/p>\n<p>New Jersey&rsquo;s race is not the only one serving as a bellwether this year. In Virginia, former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger maintains a comfortable lead over Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NJ governor race tight as new poll shows Sherrill, Ciattarelli tied<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2491024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP25265006110125-e1758816682971.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[34059,40275,33096,63977,33387],"class_list":["post-2491023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election-2024","tag-gubernatorial-race","tag-new-jersey","tag-nj-politics","tag-political-campaign"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP25265006110125-e1758816682971.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2491023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2491023"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2491023\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2491027,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2491023\/revisions\/2491027"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2491024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2491023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2491023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2491023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}