TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — The candidates for governor are making their closing arguments with voters in New Jersey.
Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who is hoping to unseat Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy, greeted voters Monday at the Tick Tock Diner in Clifton.
He's making his pitch to the broad swath of unaffiliated voters in the Garden State and believes the momentum is swinging in his favor.
"From what I've seen on the Murphy side there seems to be low turnout and just low energy, not much of a buzz. Everywhere we go the crowds have been great, the reception has been great. People like the message," Ciattarelli said.
The former Assembly member and small businessman said he'll do better at property taxes and school funding.
Murphy, who is hoping to become the first Democratic governor to be re-elected in New Jersey since 1977, is looking at pocketbook issues.
"So we want to make sure that we have a state that is growing in the economy and that is fairer for a lot of folks," Murphy said.
For his part, the governor said his policies have helped the middle class.
"And that is fairer for a lot of folks where we haven't been fair in our state's history and I think we've made significant progress and I would hope that we could continue to make more," Murphy said.
In the closing hours of the campaign for governor, Murphy traveled the state touting the progressive accomplishments during his first term including paid sick leave, a phased-in $15 minimum wage, higher taxes on the wealthy, taxpayer-financed community college and pre-kindergarten, among others.
The issues New Jersey voters focus on now, however, have changed since the start of the gubernatorial campaigns.
"COVID has actually faded as an issue right now which could be problematic for Phil Murphy, that's his big issues, he's got a big advantage on how he's handled that, people give him good grades for handling that. Taxes on the other hand is an issue where Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican, has a natural advantage and continues to have an advantage," said Monmouth polling director Patrick Murray.
He told WCBS 880's Kristie Keleshian that the current gridlock in Washington is decreasing motivation among Democratic voters, which is a concern for Murphy's campaign.
However, as current governor, there are still advantages Murphy has over Ciattarelli.
"We've seen a shift in voter interest or priorities in the issues from COVID to education, and education is another issue where Phil Murphy also has an advantage and has been able to hold onto that advantage," Murray said.
If he wins, Murphy has promised to sign a Reproductive Freedom Act enshrining abortion rights into state law, a response to Democratic concerns that Roe v. Wade could be undone by the U.S. Supreme Court. He's also promised more gun control legislation and to expand taxpayer-financed pre-kindergarten to more schools, eventually making it universal for all 3-year-olds.
Ciattarelli has promised to reduce property taxes, which average about $9,100 and are among the highest in the country, by overhauling the state's school funding formula. Details about how it would work, however, are murky. He's also said there will be no COVID-19 mandates under his administration. Murphy, by contrast, currently has ordered masks in schools.
About 700,000 people have already cast their ballots during early in-person voting, which ended Sunday.
Polls are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Mail-in ballots can be returned through 8 p.m. Tuesday as well.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.