Surprise Reunion for Gubernatorial Candidate

NEWARK, N.J. — Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican candidate for governor, experienced an emotional surprise just before the election when his son, Army Captain Jake, returned from Kuwait to support him.

This touching moment unfolded at Murph’s Tavern, where Ciattarelli was engaging with voters. Suddenly, Jake, in full military uniform, approached and embraced his father warmly.

Peter Murphy, the Passaic County Republican Chairman, playfully hinted at the surprise just moments before Jake arrived, saying, “Your biggest supporter in service to your country just came over for one night to serve you.” Ciattarelli appeared a bit puzzled and asked, “Who’s here?”

As Jake walked in, the crowd erupted in cheers, chanting “USA!” which added to the emotional atmosphere.

Ciattarelli, visibly surprised, shared some light-hearted jokes about his son’s unexpected visit. “Just a guess, you called the president yesterday. He sent Air Force One to Kuwait to pick up Jack,” he quipped, adding humorously, “And if I know the young man, he’ll probably be on a plane this afternoon back to Kuwait to protect our country.”

He also mentioned, jokingly, that Jake was so focused on his duties that he probably forgot to send in his mail-in ballot, emphasizing that he was there to vote.

Later on, Jake mentioned to reporters that he would be staying in the U.S. until Thursday to lend his support to his father. Since late 2023, he has served as a captain in the Army.

Ciattarelli often highlights Jake’s service, previously sharing a photo of him next to a New Jersey Avenue sign while stationed overseas.

The campaign schedule for Ciattarelli was packed for Monday, featuring a call with President Trump, a stop in Neptune City, and concluding with a final rally in Raritan.

In polling, Ciattarelli was trailing slightly behind his Democratic rival, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, by about 3.3 percentage points as reported in the latest election updates.