A good observation from The Downballot:

“Even as a new independent poll finds a tied race for New Jersey’s open governorship, backers of Republican Jack Ciattarelli are still not spending as though they believe he’s in a tight contest against Democrat Mikie Sherrill.”

Earlier for members: Is the New Jersey Governor’s Race Really Close?

“Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for governor of New Jersey, was barred from walking with her class at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994 as a punishment connected to the massive cheating scandal that implicated over 130 midshipmen in her class,” the New Jersey Globe reports.

Said Sherrill: “I didn’t turn in some of my classmates, so I didn’t walk, but graduated and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving for nearly ten years with the highest level of distinction and honor.”

A new Emerson College Poll of New Jersey voters finds 43% of voters support Mikie Sherrill (D) and Jack Ciatarelli (R), with 11% of voters undecided.

Decision Desk HQ: New Jersey’s 2025 race for governor could be close.

A new Quinnipiac poll in New Jersey finds Mikie Sherrill (D) leading Jack Ciattarelli (R) in the governor’s race, 49% to 41%.

Six percent are either undecided or did not provide a response.

Said pollster Tim Malloy: “With just under seven weeks to go, the race for the Trenton State House leans Sherrill’s way as Ciattarelli lags on three key character issues: honesty, empathy and leadership.”

“The Democratic National Committee will spend another $1.5 million on New Jersey’s off-year gubernatorial race, upping its commitment in a state that Republicans believe is trending their way,” Semafor reports.

“Democratic nominees have led in public polling in both states, but surveys missed a GOP surge in New Jersey’s 2021 elections. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill will face GOP nominee Jack Ciattarelli in their first televised debate later this week.”

“National Republicans are wading into the race for New Jersey governor — the latest indication that the party is bullish about Jack Ciattarelli’s chances of flipping the state in November,” Politico reports.

“Restore New Jersey, a super PAC backed by the Republican Governors Association, is placing an initial $1 million advertising buy over the next week to boost Ciattarelli in the final stretch of his campaign against Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who is benefiting from $20 million in spending from her own super PAC.”

A new Quantus Insights poll in New Jersry finds Mikie Sherrill (D) leading the race for governor over Jack Ciattarelli (R), 49% to 39%.

Another 12% are undecided.

A Fairleigh Dickinson poll finds the race to be the next governor of New Jersey is close, with Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill holding an eight-point lead over Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli among likely voters, 45% to 37%, and 16% still undecided.

A new Emerson College survey in New Jersey finds 28% of Democratic Primary voters plan to support Rep. Mikie Sherrill, while 11% respectively support Mayor Steven Fulop, Mayor Ras Baraka, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer and 10% support Sean Spiller. With about a month until the primary, 24% are undecided. 

On the Republican side, 44% support Jack Ciattarelli, while 18% support Bill Spadea, and 8% support Jon Bramnick. Twenty-three percent are undecided. 

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), who is running for New Jersey governor, admitted to posting a fake version of his “Spotify Wrapped” year end song list, which was made up entirely of Bruce Springsteen songs, NJ.com reports.

Gottheimer later confessed to posting a manufactured list: “This would be my Spotify Wrapped if I didn’t share my account with my 12 and 15-year-old kids.”

“Two New Jersey House members will launch their campaigns for the Democratic nomination for governor over the next seven days,” the New Jersey Globe reports.

“Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D) will announce his candidacy on Friday, November 15 … Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) will launch her campaign on Monday, November 18.”

“Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) on Monday took a step closer to running for New Jersey governor in 2025, telling Axios he is ‘strongly considering’ a bid.”

“The high-profile centrist and prodigious fundraiser could prove highly competitive in the crowded Democratic primary field with his nearly $20 million war chest.”

Former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney (D) will announce on Monday that he will seek the Democratic nomination for governor, becoming the second candidate in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy in 2025, the New Jersey Globe reports.

“Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican vying to unseat Gov. Philip Murphy of New Jersey, will concede defeat on Friday, acknowledging that there is no chance he can overcome the 74,000-vote gap now separating the candidates,” the New York Times reports.

Gov. Phil Murphy (D) has apparently won a much closer than expected re-election race in New Jersey, according to the Cook Political Report.

NJ Advance Media: “He energized the crowd with his trademark call to revamp government to better help the young and working-class — a message that has long drawn him a devoted following among college-age Americans.”

“And while Sanders was the clearly main attraction, the former presidential candidate repeatedly championed Murphy as a vessel for that message and urged the audience to help vote the Democratic governor into a second term Tuesday.”

“The campaigns and outside groups for Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli have spent $45,871,086 in the general election, nearly twice as much as what was shelled out about this time four years ago,” NJ.com reports.