Ciattarelli and Spadea battle for Trump supporters in NJ governor primary race

With just one week to go until primary day in New Jersey, the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination is heating up. Jack Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker who is making his third bid for governor, has received a major endorsement from none other than President Donald Trump.

In a tele-rally ahead of the start of early voting, Trump urged supporters to vote for Ciattarelli, calling him a “true champion for the people of your state.” The endorsement comes after a heated battle for Trump’s support between Ciattarelli and his primary opponents, Bill Spadea and state Sen. Jon Bramnick.

Spadea, a former businessman and popular conservative talk radio host, expressed disappointment over Trump’s endorsement of Ciattarelli, claiming that he is the true Republican in the race. However, Ciattarelli emphasized his support for Trump’s policies, including a temporary hold on wind farms off the Jersey Shore and a quadrupling of the SALT deduction on federal tax returns.

Despite losing out on Trump’s endorsement, Spadea noted that the endorsement had a silver lining, with a surge in low-dollar fundraising and volunteer support. He emphasized his appeal to a broad base of voters, including Democrats and independents.

Ciattarelli, on the other hand, highlighted his fundraising advantage and dominance in the ad wars, as well as his strong performance against Democratic incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy in the 2021 election. He expressed confidence in his ability to win the Republican nomination and ultimately the governor’s race in November.

Looking ahead to the general election campaign, Ciattarelli said he is excited for Trump’s active participation and believes that the former president’s support will help deliver a victory in November. He pointed to New Jersey’s history of electing Republican governors and Trump’s improved performance in the state in the 2020 and 2024 elections.

As the race for the Republican nomination heats up, all eyes will be on New Jersey as one of just two states holding gubernatorial contests in the year after a presidential election. With Trump’s endorsement and a strong showing in fundraising and support, Ciattarelli is poised to make a strong push for the governor’s mansion in November.