New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill Jack Ciattarelli.

Getting to know the candidates in New Jersey’s race for governor may offer insights about the national mood on President Donald Trump’s agenda, as well as how voters are reacting to Democrats’ messaging. After emerging from competitive primaries, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli began the general election campaign Wednesday. Both will look to fire up their core supporters and find new voters. And both have found subtle ways to tout their backgrounds to voters during the campaign. In New Jersey, Democrats outnumber Republicans among registered voters, but independents are a significant chunk of the electorate.