Late Friday, former President Donald Trump made a strong appeal to New Jersey residents to vote for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, as early voting in the state was set to commence on Saturday.

Trump expressed his intention to join Ciattarelli on the campaign trail following his return from an upcoming trip to Asia, though no specific arrangements have been confirmed yet.

Emphasizing Ciattarelli’s commitment to tackling high energy costs, Trump reiterated the candidate’s focus on addressing the cost of living, a message he had highlighted earlier this week on Truth Social.

“Jack understands energy better than almost anyone outside of the energy sector,” Trump remarked, also mentioning his own New Jersey ties, where he owns a golf club and often retreats for summer weekends.

The former president spoke for roughly 10 minutes during a phone rally, aiming to bolster the Republican effort to unseat Democrat Mikie Sherrill and gain a pivotal seat in the upcoming election.

Trump urged voters with mail ballots to send them in, then returned to his longstanding criticism of mail ballots and cast doubt on the integrity of the election.

“Sometimes I think you’re better off in person, but you do it the way you want to do it,” Trump said. “You got to make sure the votes are counted, because New Jersey has a little bit of a rough reputation, I must be honest.”

Trump had previously endorsed Ciattarelli, who has embraced the support of the Republican president and given him an “A” grade for his performance in the White House, but has not campaigned alongside him. Ciattarelli said the president’s team has offered “anything that you think can help the campaign.”

New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states holding gubernatorial contests on Nov. 4 and are seen as bellwethers for the current administration and a way to test the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses ahead of the midterms.

Former President Barack Obama will appear on Nov. 1 with Sherrill and Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who is running for governor of Virginia. Trump has not announced plans to campaign with Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican nominee in Virginia.

Recent polling suggests Sherrill, a four-term member of Congress, former Navy pilot and one-time prosecutor, holds a slight lead.