Can Republicans turn out Trump voters when he isn't on the ballot? They'll find out in New Jersey

Republican Jack Ciattarelli spent part of a recent rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, tossing bright red “Make NJ Great Again” hats to supporters in the crowd

Republican Jack Ciattarelli spent part of a recent rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, tossing bright red “Make NJ Great Again” hats to supporters in the crowd.

To become the state’s next governor, Ciattarelli needs voters who have long donned “Make America Great Again” hats to head to the polls in three weeks, too.

The New Jersey race is one of the first major tests of President Donald Trump’s second term for Republicans looking to turn out Trump voters when he is not on the ballot. New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states with governor’s races this year, and Ciattarelli is the only candidate for governor with Trump’s endorsement.

Republicans have struggled to turn out the president’s supporters in off-year and midterm elections, including in a number of special elections so far in 2025. And these voters could be key to Ciattarelli’s path to victory.

“They’re extremely important,” said New Jersey GOP strategist Mike DuHaime, a former Republican National Committee political director. He noted Trump won around 700,000 more votes in 2024 than Ciattarelli when he lost to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy by 3 points in 2021.