Overview

• Decision Desk HQ’s polling average shows Mikie Sherrill leading Jack Ciattarelli 49% to 44% in a competitive statewide contest.
• New Jersey Democrats and community leaders voice concern about lagging Black and Hispanic turnout, citing limited prior outreach and lingering fatigue from last year’s Harris–Trump race.
• Sherrill emphasizes affordability and proposes a first-time homebuyer program, highlighting a homeownership gap of about 70% for white families versus 30% for Black families.
• Business and civic advocates press for specific commitments to expand opportunities for minority- and women-owned firms, pointing to a state disparity study documenting contracting shortfalls.
• Ciattarelli’s team says it is pushing into nonwhite communities and touts a few crossover endorsements, while NBC analysis underscores Trump’s 2024 gains in Hispanic areas and larger turnout drop-offs there in 2021.