President Donald Trump has delivered a dramatic late-campaign push in the 2025 gubernatorial races, directly targeting voters in Virginia and New Jersey to vote for Republican candidates Winsome Earl-Sears and Jack Ciattarelli — portraying the choice as a stark contrast between conservative governance and what he calls the “death wish” of Democratic policies. In a social post, Trump wrote: “Virginia and New Jersey, VOTE REPUBLICAN IF YOU WANT MASSIVE ENERGY COST AND CRIME REDUCTIONS. The Democrats will double and even triple your Energy Costs, and CRIME will be rampant. A vote for the Democrats is a DEATH WISH! VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!”

The timing of the message is significant. Both states host key off-year gubernatorial contests on November 4, 2025, seen by many analysts as early tests of President Trump’s continuing influence and a bellwether for the 2026 midterm strategy. In New Jersey, Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee, is locked in a close race against Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. The president’s intervention ties the campaign firmly to his national agenda, particularly on energy and public safety. In Virginia, Winsome Earl-Sears stands as the Republican nominee, seeking to defend a GOP-held governorship; Trump’s call to action extends to Virginia voters as well, though his role there has been less publicized.

For the Trump camp, the message is clear: this is not a routine race, but a battleground where conservative voters must deliver. By emphasizing lower energy bills and tougher crime policy, Trump is tapping into two issues frequently cited by voters as top-of-mind. He argues that Democratic leadership in these states would lead to higher utility costs and deteriorating public safety — framing the November vote as a referendum on national trends.

The stakes are high for the Republican Party. Historically, midterm and off-year elections skew toward the party out of the White House. But Trump’s team views this as an opportunity to energize looser voters and reclaim momentum heading into 2026. Jack Ciattarelli’s campaign has welcomed the endorsement, with strategists emphasizing how linking his candidacy to the president’s agenda could boost turnout in swing counties. Meanwhile, Winsome Earl-Sears faces a tougher race in Virginia, where polls show Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger holding a significant lead — meaning the president’s call may serve as a way to galvanize conservative turnout rather than reshape the dynamics entirely.

Critics argue that Trump’s involvement carries risks. Tying state-level races so closely to his national brand may alienate moderate voters, especially in states like New Jersey where his approval ratings remain underwater. Moreover, Democrats have seized on the endorsement to paint Republican candidates as too closely bound to the president, potentially energizing opposition turnout. Political analysts note the possibility that Trump’s intervention could help Ciattarelli, but also polarize the race further.

For Joseph voters in Virginia and New Jersey, the endorsement frames the upcoming election as more than a local contest. It becomes a statement about the direction of the country, energy policy, crime control and party allegiance. The president’s call amplifies the urgency for Republican voters, urging them to see November 4 not only as a chance to pick a governor, but to reaffirm the broader agenda he leads.

As the final weeks of the campaign unfold, attention will turn to how effectively the Trump endorsement translates into voter turnout. Will conservative voters heed the president’s warning about crime and energy costs and deliver victories in red-leaning suburbs and working-class districts? Or will the Democrats’ messaging about affordability and moderation blunt the impact of the endorsement? The answer in these two states may ripple far beyond state capitals.