The sprint to Election Day begins in the Virginia and New Jersey governor's races

The year’s lone pair of gubernatorial elections are only two months away, providing one of the biggest tests for both parties since the 2024 presidential contest

The year’s lone pair of gubernatorial elections are only two months away, providing one of the biggest tests for both parties since the 2024 presidential contest.

In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are locked in a competitive race that has been defined by affordability issues and the popularity of President Donald Trump and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger has seen success in polls by blasting Republican Winsome Earle-Sears over Trump’s massive tax cut and spending law and putting economic issues at the forefront of her message. But Earle-Sears, the state’s lieutenant governor, seems to have made up ground over the summer, with early voting kicking off in just over two weeks.

Both races promise to examine what messages might work or fail ahead of next year’s midterm elections — and whether Democrats can bank on enthusiasm centered on opposition to Trump.

“I think we’re going to learn whether or not Democrats have the energy that they did in 2017. We saw big victories in New Jersey and Virginia in 2017, and that portended very big victories in 2018,” said New Jersey Democratic strategist Dan Bryan.