That balancing act—a promise to be a Republican governor who can collaborate with the President without blindly following him—sits at the center of Ciattarelli’s case to a state that has voted against Trump every time he's been on the ballot. It’s a pitch tailored for New Jersey, where registered Democratic voters substantially outnumber Republicans but saw a rightward shift in the last election. So far, the approach appears to be narrowing the gap: Multiple polls show he’s trailing his Democratic opponent Rep. Mikie Sherrill by single digits; others show the race virtually tied. Ciattarelli is touting Trump's support when it helps, but also emphasizing points of daylight, particularly on immigration and green energy. He's shared the stage with MAGA figures like Vivek Ramaswamy, Byron Donalds, and Jack Posobiec, while also locking up endorsements from some of Jersey's Democratic mayors. The coalition he’s building is an improbable one, but Ciattarelli insists it’s his best path to victory. Simply put: he needs the Trump base to win; he also needs some of the Trump skeptics.