President Trump is diving headfirst into the final stretch of the New Jersey and Virginia governor races with a multimillion-dollar push to rally his base, as Axios reports.
Trump's political machine is pouring over $1 million into each state, targeting his supporters and those Republicans who often sit out off-year elections, while testing turnout strategies for future battles like the 2026 midterms.
This isn’t just a casual dip of the toe—Trump’s operation is rolling out a full-court press with microtargeting campaigns to identify and mobilize less reliable voters. Using voting histories and data from past campaigns, they’re pinpointing who needs a nudge. It’s a smart play, but let’s be honest, getting the MAGA crowd to show up without Trump on the ballot is like convincing a bear to skip hibernation.
The White House admits this is an uphill climb, acknowledging the challenge of energizing pro-Trump voters when their champion isn’t running. Still, they’re treating Tuesday’s races as a proving ground for tactics that could shape bigger fights down the road.
“Virginia has always been an incubator for testing tactics for the midterm election,” a Trump adviser noted. Well, isn’t that a fancy way to say they’re using the Old Dominion as a political petri dish? If they can crack the code here, it might just rewrite the playbook for rallying the base.
In Virginia, the focus is on Trump strongholds like the Richmond and Virginia Beach suburbs, as well as rural Southwest areas, where his message has historically resonated. Meanwhile, New Jersey’s investment dwarfs what was spent eight years ago, when pro-Trump forces all but waved the white flag late in the game. It’s a bold shift, but will it pay off when polls show GOP candidates trailing in both states?
Trump himself isn’t hitting the campaign trail in person for these races, but he’s not sitting idle either. He’s jumping into the fray through tele-rallies, aiming to fire up his supporters from afar.
Last week, before jetting off to Asia, Trump held a tele-rally for New Jersey gubernatorial hopeful Jack Ciattarelli, perfectly timed with the kickoff of early voting in the state. Not to be outdone, he also teamed up with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin in a Thursday evening tele-rally to boost Republican candidates statewide. There’s even talk of more virtual events on Monday evening, according to a source in the know.
These tele-rallies are a clever workaround, but let’s not kid ourselves—they’re no substitute for the electric energy of a Trump rally in the flesh. Still, in an era where digital outreach is king, it’s a practical way to keep the base engaged without burning jet fuel. Will a phone call pack the same punch as a packed arena?
Backing up Trump’s virtual efforts, pro-Trump groups and the Republican National Committee are rolling out a “72-hour program” to spike GOP turnout in the final days. They’re pulling out all the stops with phone-banking, digital ads, and social media blitzes. In New Jersey, they’re even tossing some cash at mailers to seal the deal.
Historically, off-year elections have been a snoozefest for Republican voters in these states. In New Jersey’s 2017 governor race, GOP turnout was barely over half of what Trump pulled when he was on the ballot the year prior, and Virginia saw just two-thirds of his vote total in a similar off-year contest. If that’s not a wake-up call for conservatives, what is?
The strategy hinges on dragging those less dependable voters to the polls, using detailed data to find them. It’s a numbers game, pure and simple, but when the other side’s progressive agenda is on the line, every single vote counts. Can they turn couch potatoes into ballot warriors?
Despite the heavy investment, the outlook isn’t all sunshine and roses—polls show Republican gubernatorial candidates lagging in both states.
However, there’s a glimmer of hope in Virginia’s attorney general race, where incumbent Jason Miyares holds a slight edge over Democratic challenger Jay Jones in late surveys. It’s a tight one, and every call or ad could tip the scales.
For conservatives tired of seeing common-sense values sidelined by woke policies, these races are a chance to draw a line in the sand. Trump’s operation is betting big that their base still has fight left, even without their leader headlining the ticket. The question is whether this last-minute surge can overcome the apathy that often plagues off-year contests.
