New Jersey Republican voters spoke to Fox News Digital from Medford, New Jersey, Nov. 3, 2025, about the highly anticipated gubernatorial election. (Fox News Digital )
Obama traveled to Newark, New Jersey, Saturday evening, where he held a rally with Democrat candidate Sherrill. New Jersey is a historically deep blue state that previously voted to elect a Republican governor in 2013, when former Gov. Chris Christie was elected, and previously voted to elect a Republican president in 1988, when George H.W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis.
"Let's face it, our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now," Obama told the audience Saturday, taking a shot at President Donald Trump and his administration. "It's hard to know where to start, because every day this White House offers up a fresh batch of lawlessness and carelessness and mean-spiritedness. And just plain old craziness."
Republicans are on a mission to flip the state red and are motivated by Trump's inroads with Jersey voters in 2024. Trump cut his 2020 loss from 16 points in the state down to six points in 2024, and flipped five counties to the GOP.
Republican gubernatorial candidate in Ohio Vivek Ramaswamy headlines a campaign event for New Jersey GOP nominee for governor Jack Ciattarelli, on Oct. 15, 2025, in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. (Paul Steinhauser - Fox News)
Cliff Maloney, CEO of Citizens Alliance and the founder of campaign efforts PA Chase and NJ Chase, told Fox Digital that Obama's presence in New Jersey was a "Hail Mary" pass from Democrats.
"I just think it's all AstroTurf. I think it is fake excitement," Maloney, who attended the rally as a speaker to mobilize New Jersey voters. "They're kind of just hyping things and trying to sensationalize it. Nobody's excited about (Sherrill). And that's something that you can't fix that."
"You can bring an Obama. You can bring in whoever. At the end of the day, New Jersey has an 800,000 registration advantage to Democrats and we're here in the state telling you it's competitive," Maloney added. "So win or lose, the fact that this is a place that Democrats have to spend resources, time, energy, and money, this is not even supposed to be a competitive race. We're in a dead heat right now. We are in the game. This is a competitive grace. And if Jack pulls this off, it will be an earth-shattering moment in the political world."
New Jersey's notoriously high taxes and spiraling energy costs are top concerns for voters, with locals telling Fox Digital that protecting Christianity and "truth" is also on the ballot in 2025.
"My concerns are actually Christianity, people not being told the truth, obviously abortion and our children in schools, they need to learn things that are really truthful," local South Jersey voter Valerie told Fox News Digital.
Republican Jack Ciattarelli responds to questions during the first general election gubernatorial debate with Democratic opponent Mikie Sherrill, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. (Noah K. Murray/The Associated Press)
Turning Point Action field representative Noah Formica, who is from Pennsylvania and made the trek down to New Jersey to bolster mobilization efforts, explained that the "Super Chase" event is designed to spur locals to motivate their neighbors to vote.
"It's a group of people getting together. They listen to a few speakers talking about action, and then we get directly involved in our communities," he said.
"Every single door that we knock, right here in New Jersey, makes all the difference. Just voter contacts. And we have almost 60 people here, so if each person here knocks 15 doors, imagine the impact that'll make on a local race," he said.
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The New Jersey election will be held Tuesday, with polls opening at 6 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and closing at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Sherrill campaign regarding the voters' comments but did not immediately receive a response.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/obama-jumping-new-jersey-gubernatorial-race-11th-hour-desperate-voters-say