President Donald Trump is making a final multi-million-dollar investment in Tuesday’s statewide elections in New Jersey and Virginia, in an effort to turn out MAGA voters who tend to sit out off-year elections when Trump isn’t on the ballot. The Trump campaign has allocated approximately $1 million each to these states for get-out-the-vote operations, focusing on microtargeting strategies to energize his base.
Joe Gruters, chairman of the Trump-aligned Republican National Committee (RNC), emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating, ‘What you’ve seen just in the last couple of days is the president and all of our Republican forces have put even more money behind our efforts to turn out our votes because that’s what it’s gonna come down to.’ These targeted efforts are part of a broader strategy to secure GOP victories and strengthen the party’s position ahead of the 2025 midterms.
The elections in New Jersey and Virginia, which are the only two states to hold gubernatorial contests the year after a presidential election, are seen as important indicators of the party’s prospects. The upcoming races are also considered the first major ballot box test of Trump’s unprecedented and explosive agenda. The new infusion of cash from Trump’s political coffers, first reported by Axios, is fueling the RNC’s 72-hour program aimed at turning out GOP voters in the final stretch leading up to Election Day.
Republican operatives are tracking down low-propensity GOP voters, then reaching out through phone-banking efforts or digital and social media targeting ads. Gruters highlighted the necessity of GOP turnout, stating, ‘We have to have Republicans show up on election day if our candidates are gonna have a chance.’ While Trump has not made traditional campaign appearances in New Jersey or Virginia, he has engaged with supporters through tele-rallies, including recent events with Republican candidates in both states.
The Democratic National Committee has also increased its spending on get-out-the-vote efforts in these states, with over $7 million allocated for similar initiatives. DNC chair Ken Martin emphasized the importance of every election, stating, ‘I’ve always taken the position that every election matters, whether it’s an on-year, off-year, whether it’s a local election, a federal election, every inch of ground that we gain here adds up.’ Recent polls indicate a favorable position for Democratic candidates in both states, suggesting the outcome of these races could have significant implications for the broader political landscape as both parties vie for control over key state positions.