The doors are quickly closing on efforts to derail both parties’ frontrunners ahead of New Jersey’s June 10 gubernatorial primaries.
President Donald Trump’s endorsement of former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli last week all but guarantees that the Republican businessman will advance to the general election in his third consecutive quest for the governorship. Meanwhile, Rep. Mikie Sherrill has become the clear favorite in the six-way Democratic primary to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop are best-positioned to capitalize on a late slip-up by the congresswoman, but even friendly polls suggest they have a decent gap to close with three weeks to go.
Given New Jersey’s historical edge for Democrats and tendency to punish the party in the White House, this race remains in the Lean Democrat column. But recent GOP inroads in the state give the party an unusual degree of confidence about their ability to put the contest in play come November.
The Republican primaryA successful primary rerun for Ciattarelli was far from assured at the start of the cycle.
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