The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is making a second $1.5 million investment in the New Jersey gubernatorial race, bringing its total to $3 million devoted to electing Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) in November. 

The total is the most that the DNC has ever spent in New Jersey during an off-year election cycle, the organization said in a release Tuesday. The investment will contribute to hiring more regional directors, organizers and staff, funding voter contact efforts, testing new tactics and tools to ensure messaging is resonating with voters and expanding the party’s reach with key groups it lost ground with in November, including Black, Latino and Asian American voters. 

“With stakes this high for New Jerseyans, the DNC is all in to support Democrats up and down the ballot who have a proven record of delivering results for New Jersey,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. 

Both parties are eying the governor’s mansion in New Jersey with less than two months before Election Day, as incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is term-limited. 

Republican Jack Ciattarelli is the GOP nominee for governor for a second time after narrowly losing to Murphy in 2021. The GOP is hoping to pull off an upset in the Garden State, given Ciattarelli’s close defeat four years ago and President Trump making significant gains in the state last November. 

But Democrats are rallying around Sherrill and are hoping that the millions that they are pouring into the race will be enough to fend off the challenge from Ciattarelli. 

Polling has shown Sherrill with varying leads. She’s ahead of Ciattarelli by about 7 points in the average from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill. 

The announcement from the DNC comes after a super PAC tied to the Republican Governors Association revealed plans for an initial $1 million ad buy for Ciattarelli. 

Eyes will be on the results of the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia this year for an indication of the parties’ standings ahead of next year’s midterm elections.