TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey’s early voting turnout shows Republicans outpacing Democrats, prompting swift responses from Democratic campaigns to counter the unexpected trend. Early voting figures released Tuesday indicate Republicans hold a 1.9% lead in in-person early voting, with 192,729 ballots cast by registered Republicans, compared to 183,262 by registered Democrats. Additionally, unaffiliated voters account for 128,199 of the ballots, marking an energized base and rising participation among GOP voters.
Prominent GOP supporters, such as Trump delegate Mike Crispi, have highlighted the momentum shift. Crispi commented, “Everyone around the country is buzzing about Trump leading in early voting in New Jersey,” attributing the energy to a 2024 Trump rally in Wildwood. “This was the day that started it all,” he added, reflecting on the former president’s efforts to engage the New Jersey base.
The surge is bolstered by America First New Jersey, which has been actively organizing outreach programs that emphasize the “Too Big to Rig” message, aimed at securing strong turnout and reinforcing confidence in Republican voters. Crispi credited the combined efforts of grassroots organizers and local advocates, stating, “We are winning on early voting; our outreach program is working, and the message is landing.”
In response, Vice President Kamala Harris’s team has launched an initiative to hire local voting ambassadors, with $400 incentives for supporters who commit to reaching out to voters in their communities. Democratic organizers are intensifying efforts to boost voter participation across the state’s more reliably Democratic counties, particularly Essex and Hudson, as they work to balance the current turnout trend in the final days of early voting.
“New Jersey, Do Something Now Here’s the truth: this election will be decided by a handful of voters in a few key states. We’re counting on you to talk to the voters who will ultimately decide if Kamala Harris becomes our next President,” the Harris Walz said in a job posting on their website.