By Sandy Fitzgerald | Friday, 31 October 2025 10:59 AM EDT
Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli expressed confidence in his third bid for New Jersey governor, citing stronger internal polls, heightened voter enthusiasm, and evolving political dynamics. Speaking after a rally at Spring Lake Manor on Thursday, the former state assemblyman highlighted momentum as Election Day approaches.
Ciattarelli, who narrowly lost to Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021, noted he is no longer challenging an incumbent this cycle. He attributed his current standing to post-pandemic normalization and increased voter engagement following his 2021 performance. “The closeness of my race in ’21 was a real eye-opener,” he said. “People know we can win now.”
Internal polling, according to Ciattarelli, shows improved numbers compared to 2021, with record Republican mail-in ballots and balanced early voting turnout. He emphasized that if his lead holds, “we’re going to win this thing,” citing stronger in-person vote totals than Murphy’s in the last election.
Democrat candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill has drawn high-profile supporters, including former President Barack Obama, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. However, Ciattarelli dismissed their influence, stating, “The candidate has to go out and win the race.”
While Democrats argue national politics could disadvantage Republicans, Ciattarelli focused on state-level failures, calling them a “failure across the board.” Polls show Sherrill leading by 3.6 points, but Ciattarelli noted surveys underestimated him by 5 points in 2021, asserting, “We are right where we need to be.”
President Donald Trump has avoided direct campaigning for Ciattarelli but supported him via a tele-rally. Sherrill has frequently invoked Trump on the trail, linking her opponent to the former president. Ciattarelli rejected claims that Trump’s presence harms his campaign, instead praising policies like opposition to New York’s congestion pricing and the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Trump has urged New Jersey voters to back Ciattarelli, labeling Sherrill a “fake and corrupt radical left Democrat” poised to plunge the state into a “death spiral.”
