A tight race faces Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli in their bids to become New Jersey governor next week, according to polls.

Sherrill holds a lead among young voters, a traditional Democratic group that shifted rightward in last year’s presidential race, recent surveys suggest.

Newsweek reached out to the Ciattarelli and Sherrill campaigns for comment via email.

Why It Matters

The New Jersey gubernatorial race is a key bellwether for the mood of the electorate ahead of the 2026 midterms, when Democrats will be hoping to flip seats across the country in a 2018-style "blue wave."

The election will be a test for Democrats’ efforts to win back support where President Donald Trump gained ground in last year’s presidential race. Gen Z is one

See Full Page