NJ-GOV: Cook Political Report lists governor's race Lean Democrat
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter released its first rating of New Jersey’s gubernatorial race Friday, listing it Lean Democrat and calling it “about as clear as the Hudson River.”
Matthew Klein, Cook’s gubernatorial analyst, said the abolition of the county line, Vice President Kamala Harris’ poor performance, and other recent developments in the Garden State make for a race that “more closely resembles the Wild West than the white-collar Northeast.”
The race to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy depends in large part on who Republicans nominate, Klein argues. He wrote the state’s history of electing moderate Republican governors means a “broadly acceptable nominee” could end in victory for Republicans. Klein wrote that Democrats need to focus on turning out working-class Black and Hispanic voters in the off-cycle race.
Klein wrote that President-elect Donald Trump’s first-term behavior will also affect the path of the race — unpopularity similar to 2017 and 2018 could limit the ceiling for Republicans next year.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/campaigns/cook-political-report-lists-governors-race-lean-democrat/