According to NBC News, New Jersey had received 705,077 mail-in and early in-person ballots as of Wednesday, Oct. 28, and 62% of them came from registered Democrats. With all 12 U.S. House seats and Sen. Cory Booker's Senate seat on the ballot, some Republican leaders voiced concern, while the Democratic state chair expressed cautious optimism.

According to Patch, citing NBC News, New Jersey had received a combined 705,077 mail-in and early in-person ballots as of Wednesday, Oct. 28. By party, 62% were Democratic, 21% Republican and 17% other. Early in-person voting began on Saturday, Oct. 24.

State data show that as of Oct. 1, New Jersey had 2,572,254 registered Democrats, 1,686,614 registered Republicans and 2,391,969 unaffiliated voters. All 12 U.S. House seats and Sen. Cory Booker's Senate seat are on the ballot this year. Patch reported that this has helped boost early-voting enthusiasm. The election-data account Umichvoter said New Jersey's early voting is up 32.1% from last year.

Reactions within the Republican Party are mixed. In a New Jersey Monitor report cited by Patch, Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore said there is concern among Republican chairs in other counties as well, adding, "People are a little nervous." Cape May County Republican Chairman Mike Donohue said judging winners and losers by the current numbers is like calling a game in the second inning. Democratic State Chairman LeRoy Jones said the party will campaign hard through the end, but that he is cautiously optimistic.

President Donald Trump has endorsed three New Jersey Republican House members: Jeff Van Drew, Chris Smith and Tom Kean Jr. In a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, 55% of likely voters preferred the Democratic House candidate and 32% preferred the Republican. Patch reported that the burden of high prices and gasoline costs is one factor behind the results.

Early voting is rising in other states as well. According to an Associated Press analysis cited by Patch, the increase in early voting compared with the previous midterm election was 103% in Kansas, 74% in Texas, 39% in Maine, 38% in North Carolina and 30% in Ohio. Because the Senate race is statewide, all New Jersey voters, including those in Bergen County, will cast a vote in the race for Booker's seat.