Democratic National Committee Boosts Spending in New Jersey, Virginia, and Pennsylvania Races

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has pledged an additional $500,000 to support voter turnout efforts in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections, as well as in Pennsylvania’s judicial races. The new funds bring the committee’s total investment for the November 4 elections to more than $6 million, as Democrats look to build momentum ahead of next year’s congressional contests.

The announcement, shared with Reuters before its release on Tuesday, underscores the DNC’s growing focus on three states where this year’s outcomes could serve as an early gauge of voter sentiment heading into 2026.

New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states that hold gubernatorial elections in the year following a presidential race, and their results are often viewed as an early referendum on the White House’s first-year performance.

In New Jersey, the tight race between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli has drawn significant attention — and money — from both national parties.

Though New Jersey has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1992, recent years have seen a rightward shift. Former President Donald Trump came within six percentage points of winning the state in the last election, and Democratic Governor Phil Murphy only narrowly defeated Ciattarelli by three points in 2021.

Since the primaries, Sherrill has maintained a slim lead, but recent polls suggest the race is tightening. A Quinnipiac University poll released on October 15 showed Sherrill leading 50% to 44% among likely voters.

The contest has already become the most expensive gubernatorial race in New Jersey’s history. According to campaign finance filings, a political action committee linked to the Democratic Governors Association has spent over $20 million, while two groups supporting Ciattarelli — including one backed by the Republican Governors Association — have raised at least $13 million.

In Virginia, Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger currently holds a 10-point lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, according to recent polls by top-rated survey firms cited by The New York Times. Like Murphy in New Jersey, incumbent Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin is barred by term limits from seeking re-election.

Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, three members of the state’s liberal 5-2 Supreme Court majority are facing retention elections—meaning they have no direct challengers, and voters will simply decide whether to renew their 10-year terms.

The DNC’s latest investment underscores the strategic importance Democrats are placing on these off-year elections, viewing them as a test of their ground operations, messaging strength, and voter enthusiasm heading into a critical election cycle.