Ahead of today’s primary in New Jersey, over the weekend, DNC Chair Ken Martin traveled to the state to rally Democrats and highlight the stakes of this election. During his visit, the chair had one simple message: The DNC is all-hands-on-deck to ensure that we hold the governor’s mansion in New Jersey and all candidates unify after the primary. 

As part of the chair’s organize everywhere, win anywhere strategy, the DNC will continue to support the New Jersey Democratic Party to ensure that our candidate has the resources and tools necessary to beat Jack Ciattarelli or any other Trump MAGA minion that New Jersey Republicans will put forward in November.

Take a look at some of the coverage below: 

New Jersey Globe: DNC chair says N.J. is central to Democrats’ push against Trump

[Zach Blackburn, 6/7/25] 

“Three days before the primary for governor, the country’s top Democrat strolled into New Jersey, saying the state is a vital battleground for Democrats’ attempts to hit back at President Donald Trump. 

“Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, visited and canvassed in the Somerset County community of Basking Ridge on Saturday afternoon, pushing voters to participate in next week’s primary.

“‘Stopping Donald Trump starts right here in New Jersey,’ Martin said. ‘Make no mistake about it.’

“‘While Jack might be a nice guy, Donald Trump is not, and you can expect him just to fall in line with Donald Trump and the rest of the Republicans if he’s the next governor of this state,’ Martin said.

“One of only two governor’s races in the country this year, top Democrats are making clear they intend to spend as much as they think will be necessary to keep the governorship blue. Speaking to reporters after his remarks Saturday, Martin said the DNC will place a ‘significant, seven-figure investment’ into New Jersey this year. Leaders at the Democratic Governors Association said earlier this week that the DGA also intends to spend heavily on the race. …

“‘All of those CD-7 candidates, let me tell you, one of the best opportunities we have to flip a seat in New Jersey is Kean’s seat,’ Martin said.” 

Insider NJ: InsiderNJ Exclusive: An Interview with Ken Martin, Chair of the DNC

[Max Pizarro, 6/7/25]

“Ken Martin, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, came to New Jersey this weekend to rally Democrats. …

“He just wants to remind people out there that everyone in the country’s watching New Jersey, including President Donald Trump – and Democrats have to stand up and fight back against the MAGA agenda. …

“‘We’ve got six great candidates, all displaying a wonderful coalition,’ he told InsiderNJ. ‘My position has always been the party bosses need to stay out of the fight’ – and let the people decide at the ballot box. …

“Martin breakfasted in Essex this morning with State Party Chairman LeRoy Jones and pressed on to make a pit stop in Central Jersey, with Peg Schaffer, Somerset County Chair and Vice Chair of the state party.

“‘A lot of great energy on the ground, with people ready to get out there,’ said Martin. ‘Regardless of who wins, my message is: support whoever our nominee is. We can win. Republicans are looking at the state too, and they see the closeness of the last race. Trump is personally obsessed with New Jersey. History not on our side with a third term by a Democratic candidate for governor, but there’s a lot of momentum this year and a huge backlash against the MAGA agenda.

“‘Jack Ciattarelli is making a mistake cozying up to Donald Trump,’ Martin added.”

NJ.com: ‘Stopping Donald Trump starts’ in N.J., top Democrat says

[Brent Johnson, 6/7/25]

“The leader of the national Democratic Party stood on a porch in Somerset County on Saturday — seven miles away from the president’s golf club — to hammer home a message.

“‘Stopping Donald Trump starts right here in New Jersey,’ Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin told a few dozen local party leaders, candidates, and voters at a private residence in Basking Ridge — three days before the primary in the massive race for the Garden State’s next governor. …

“‘I think what most people want to see is if our Democratic Party will get up off our asses and fight,’ Martin told the audience that stood on the lawn outside the house in the rain to hear him speak. ‘Why have we lost ground with so many people? Because they believe we’re not gonna fight. They believe we’re weak. They believe we’re spineless.’

“‘Let’s get out there and fight.’

“On Saturday, Martin said Republicans’ ‘best opportunity to stop us’ is in Jersey — and even noted Ciattarelli is well liked.

“‘While Jack may be a nice guy, Donald Trump is not and you can expect (Ciattarelli) to fall in line,’ the DNC chair said. …

“‘We’re going to make sure we’re investing a lot of time, energy, and money to keep this state blue,’ he told reporters after his speech. ‘And I think we’ll prevail in the end. You’ve got six great candidates.’ …

“Asked how much money the national party will pour into the general election, Martin said: ‘It will be a significant seven-figure investment in this state.’”

Washington Post: Trump looms over New Jersey governor’s primaries being decided Tuesday

[Hannah Knowles, 6/10/25]

“Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin was in the state over the weekend, meeting with local leaders and sending the message that ‘no one should sleep on New Jersey,’ as he put it in an interview.

“‘We’re going to have to work hard, because Republicans are going to put everything they can into this state,’ Martin said.”

Politico: What to watch in New Jersey’s primary election for governor

[Madison Fernandez and Daniel Han, 6/10/25]

“But Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, who visited the state over the weekend, argued that ‘there’s a lot of buyer’s remorse’ when it comes to the president, which ‘provides an opportunity to Democrats in this state to expand our coalition, bring people back into the fold who may have left us.’

“‘It’s not only the right strategy, it’s the right thing to stand up and fight back on what they’re trying to do,’ Martin said. ‘I absolutely think we’re going to continue to saddle [Ciattarelli] with the fact that he’s best buddies with Donald Trump, and that doesn’t help most hard-working New Jerseyans actually afford their lives.’”