Jack Ciattarelli was seen grilling pork rolls in the MetLife Stadium parking lot, serving sandwiches to excited Giants and Eagles fans tailgating ahead of the Turnpike Tossle game. The Republican gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey aimed to showcase his local roots by referencing this beloved Garden State breakfast staple, in contrast to Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who recently angered locals by referring to the dish as “Taylor ham” and claiming the name “pork roll” was “disgusting.”
“We’re ready! Where are the rolls?” Ciattarelli joked, lifting the hot food with a spatula and serving it up with enthusiasm.
Two days prior, Ciattarelli ignited a debate over the pork roll during a campaign rally in Manahawkin, questioning Sherrill’s authenticity as a New Jersey native. He argued that this election presented a rare opportunity for Republicans to flip the traditionally blue state, where Democrats hold a significant voter advantage.
“She wants you to think of herself as a Jersey girl, but don’t you think her stance on pork roll says otherwise?” Ciattarelli remarked to about 300 supporters at Element Restaurant. “And she claims to be moderate but she’s not a centrist!”
He also mentioned previous Democratic leaders from outside New Jersey, suggesting their arrivals hadn’t benefited the state.
“She’s not from New Jersey, so I say: Why not elect someone from Jersey?” he declared, drawing cheers from the crowd.
The Ciattarelli family has lived in New Jersey for over a century, with generations owning businesses and achieving the American dream.
His campaign has seen energetic polling and fundraising, seemingly neck-and-neck with Sherrill. Over the past week, Ciattarelli and his supporters have connected with thousands of residents across the state, pushing policies that emphasize public safety and a favorable business environment.
In addition to pork roll grilling, Ciattarelli participated in various campaign activities, including a parade, a forum with black pastors, and meetings with business leaders.
On Wednesday, the lead-up to a debate with Sherrill heightened tensions as accusations flew. Sherrill suggested Ciattarelli profited from the opioid crisis, while he retaliated by questioning her honesty.
The debate, which turned heated and personal, covered a variety of issues, from government shutdowns to the high cost of living in New Jersey. They found some common ground on the topic of self-service gas stations, agreeing that New Jersey should remain unique in not allowing drivers to fill their own tanks.
Sherrill, who made New Jersey her home in 2010, argued that Ciattarelli’s claims about her identity were unfounded. “I think New Jersey voters care about someone fighting for them; that’s me,” she stated after the debate.
Throughout his campaign, Ciattarelli continued to highlight key points such as banning sanctuary cities and demanding that all government employees return to in-person work. He also promised to end cashless bail and to provide parents with the ability to influence their children’s educational content.
During a rally, he excited supporters by announcing the return of plastic bags in supermarkets—an issue that seemed to resonate significantly with the crowd.
Ciattarelli also hinted at a “reverse congestion charge” aimed at New York vehicles unless the state retracts its entry fees into Manhattan.
In a separate moment, he expressed disappointment over airlines welcoming passengers to New York instead of New Jersey upon landing.
Born in 1961 in Somerville, Ciattarelli has a background as a businessman and previously served in various political roles, though he has faced losses in previous gubernatorial races. He has four adult children from a previous marriage.
On Thursday night, Ciattarelli mingled with fans in the MetLife parking lot after the Giants defeated the Eagles, receiving positive reactions from several attendees.
While he engaged cheerfully with supporters, his campaign also prepared to respond to Sherrill’s allegations made during the debate, with Ciattarelli threatening legal action over her claims regarding his business dealings.
After a lengthy day of campaigning, he also received support from local Democratic leaders, with an emphasis on community welfare over party lines.
