Intersting Report About GOP Coming Out Of NJ
In an unexpected twist in New Jersey’s electoral landscape, Republicans have taken an early lead in in-person voting as the 2024 election countdown begins.
According to an analysis by Associated Press election researcher Ryan Dubicki, GOP voters have outpaced Democrats in early in-person ballots, with 144,105 Republican votes already cast compared to 139,524 from Democrats. Traditionally, Democrats dominate early voting as party leaders emphasize it as a strategy. However, this election has seen New Jersey Republicans making a stronger early voting push.
Gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli expressed optimism about the numbers, attributing them to increased efforts within the party. “What we’re seeing is phenomenal,” Ciattarelli said, noting that local Republican organizations have been successfully mobilizing voters to cast ballots early.
The shift is particularly significant for a state that last went red in a presidential election back in 1988, when George H.W. Bush beat Michael Dukakis.
While the GOP has gained ground in early in-person voting, mail-in ballots show a different picture. As of Saturday, Democrats held a significant lead with 357,924 mail-in ballots compared to 121,003 from Republicans. Unaffiliated voters contributed 108,270 to the mail-in total, bringing the state’s mail-in count to 589,353.
Former President Donald Trump, who has drawn large crowds in New Jersey, even hosted a May rally that saw nearly 100,000 attendees. His campaign has been capitalizing on early voting strategies more often associated with Democrats, a trend that seems to be paying off for Republicans in New Jersey.
Nationally, the race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris remains tight, with Trump leading by a narrow 0.4 points, according to RealClear Polling averages.
Still, New Jersey’s long-standing blue tendencies are evident. In a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released October 30, 55% of registered voters said they plan to or have already voted for Harris, while 35% plan to or have already voted for Trump.
With just six days until Election Day, New Jersey’s early voting data suggests a potentially stronger Republican turnout, highlighting the growing importance of early voter outreach efforts in determining voter momentum and support.