Trump backs Ciattarelli in New Jersey governor's race, attacks Sherrill

Former President Donald Trump reiterated his support for New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli on Thursday, while targeting the Democratic challenger, Rep. Mikie Sherrill. In a post on X, Trump highlighted what he described as a recently released poll showing Ciattarelli ahead in the race and misspelled Sherrill’s first name in the process.

"Wow!!! A just out poll has Jack Ciattarelli essentially beating close to incompetent Mikie Sherrill in the race for Governor of New Jersey," Trump wrote, misspelling Sherrill's first name as "Mike." The post underscored Trump’s continued involvement in a race that has drawn national attention as Election Day approaches.

Trump endorsed Ciattarelli earlier this year after Ciattarelli won the Republican primary. In the same post, Trump asserted that Ciattarelli is "tough on crime and cutting taxes, two things that people really demand today," adding that Ciattarelli "will be a GREAT Governor" and portraying Sherrill as pursuing policies Trump said would harm the state. Trump also argued that Sherrill favors policies such as Open Borders, allowing men to compete in women’s sports, and broad transgender policy, describing those positions as part of a broader agenda that would, in Trump’s view, damage American life. He closed with a booster’s claim that New Jersey needs Ciattarelli in the governor’s office. Ciattarelli’s campaign has framed the race as a choice between conservative priorities on public safety and fiscal stewardship and a Democratic approach they say would raise taxes and expand controversial social policies.

Ciattarelli has the backing of the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, a state police union that endorsed Murphy in 2016 but did not offer an endorsement in 2021 when Murphy sought re-election. Ciattarelli has said he would work in partnership with law enforcement to improve safety and support officers and their families, a line that aligns with the union’s past emphasis on public safety. Murphy, who has been governor since early 2018, cannot seek a third term because of the state’s term-limit provisions, leaving the race to define itself in the fall with Ciattarelli seeking to present himself as a challenger from the GOP capable of reversing the incumbent administration’s trajectory.

The dynamic in New Jersey’s governor’s race has included competing narratives about crime, taxes, immigration policy, and social issues that have also been focal points in national politics. Sherrill, a Democratic candidate, has drawn critique from Trump and allied conservatives for positions on a range of issues related to immigration, border policy, and gender legislation. The Democratic contender has faced scrutiny over how Democrats in the state would approach the balance between inclusivity and policy reform, with supporters arguing for measured, evidence-based policies and opponents contending that such policies could have wide-reaching consequences for state residents. The partisan backdrop of the race has intensified as both campaigns seek to mobilize voters before November.

Election Day in New Jersey is November 4, with early voting set to begin on October 25. Mail-in ballots are already being sent to voters under the state’s election timeline. The contest is among several high-profile gubernatorial races that observers say could foreshadow broader national political dynamics heading into the 2026 cycle, as both parties seek to project strength in the Northeast and among suburban voters who have proved pivotal in recent statewide elections.

The Ciattarelli-Sherrill contest also reflects deeper debates over how state government should respond to public safety, taxation, and the management of evolving social policies. While Ciattarelli has framed the race around restoring affordability and supporting law enforcement, Sherrill has positioned herself as a candidate who would maintain Democratic governance while pursuing policy changes aligned with her party’s broader platform. The turnout outcome could influence how both parties calibrate their messages for future contests in New Jersey and neighboring states where similar issues are at the forefront of voters’ minds.

As the campaign unfolds, observers will be watching to see whether Trump’s message resonates beyond the base that has supported him in past races, and whether Ciattarelli can translate the national attention into a margin sufficient to unseat an incumbent party in a state that has leaned Democratic in recent statewide contests. The interplay between national political currents and New Jersey’s local concerns will continue to shape the competitive landscape in the weeks ahead.

Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat running in the gubernatorial contest, has been part of a broader national conversation about Democratic policy priorities and their local implications. While Trump’s post framed Sherrill’s positions as part of a wider agenda that supporters say would expand social programs and alter immigration and gender policies, Sherrill’s campaign has argued that it is promoting inclusive, rule-based policies designed to protect workers and families while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The dynamic between Ciattarelli’s emphasis on tax relief and crime-fighting priorities and Sherrill’s emphasis on social and economic equity continues to define the race as it moves toward November.