With more than 10 contenders running to become New Jersey’s next governor, a new poll shows former lawmaker Jack Ciattarelli as the early front-runner on the Republican side and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill carrying a slim lead in a very close Democratic battle less than six months to the big primary election.

The Democratic field in the New Jersey gubernatorial race appears wide open with a half dozen major candidates in contention, according to an early survey of the race. The Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill poll released Thursday showed the candidates generally within the margin of error of each other and most voters’ support up for grabs.