President Donald Trump is diving headfirst into the state elections in New Jersey and Virginia, betting big on Republican turnout even as he holds back from fully endorsing some key candidates.
With elections set for Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Trump is pushing hard to energize the Republican base in both states through significant financial investments and virtual events, while navigating tricky political terrain with unendorsed candidates in Virginia and tight races in New Jersey, as New York Post reports.
Over the weekend prior to November 3, 2025, Trump authorized the Republican National Committee to pour about $1 million into turnout efforts in each state, a clear signal of his determination to influence these races.
Now, on Monday night, November 3, 2025, he’s hosting “tele-rallies” to fire up voters in both New Jersey and Virginia, though it remains uncertain whether he’ll throw his full weight behind specific candidates or simply boost party enthusiasm.
In Virginia, the gubernatorial race pits Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor, against Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who leads by nearly 10% in polls—a gap that might explain Trump’s reluctance to endorse Earle-Sears and her running mate, John Reid.
Earle-Sears, who could make history as the first Black woman governor in the U.S., has struggled to connect with voters due to her perceived awkwardness on the stump, while Reid’s past online controversies, including alleged inappropriate posts, have further muddied their campaign.
Trump has, however, endorsed Virginia’s incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, locked in a neck-and-neck battle with Democrat Jay Jones, whose own scandals—like reckless driving and questionable community service claims—have kept the race razor-close.
A Miyares win could serve as a firewall against Democratic efforts to redraw congressional districts in 2026, not to mention bolstering resistance to progressive policies that clash with Trump’s agenda.
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Republican Jack Ciattarelli trails Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill by single digits in the governor’s race, a margin tight enough to keep hope alive for a GOP upset after Ciattarelli’s narrow loss in 2021.
Sherrill, despite her lead, hasn’t escaped scrutiny over a past Naval Academy cheating scandal that cost her the chance to walk at graduation, though she insists she didn’t snitch on her peers.
Former President Barack Obama rallied for Sherrill on Saturday, November 1, 2025, a move that underscores Democratic confidence, yet Trump’s team seems laser-focused on shrinking that gap. “I think the thing they’re most focused on is the margin in New Jersey,” noted a source close to the Trump administration, hinting at a belief that a close race could still shift momentum.
That focus on New Jersey isn’t just wishful thinking; as another source close to the White House put it, “New Jersey would be good wind in our sails and silence some of the doomers.” It’s a pragmatic take—turning a blue state red, even narrowly, would be a symbolic victory against the progressive tide.
Back in Virginia, Trump’s hesitation to back Earle-Sears and Reid speaks volumes about the campaign’s struggles, especially when contrasted with his vocal support for Miyares in the attorney general race.
Still, even without a full-throated endorsement, Trump’s tele-rallies and hefty spending show he’s not abandoning Virginia entirely—he’s just playing the long game, prioritizing winnable fights over risky bets in a state where Democratic dominance looms large.
