Early voting in New Jersey’s competitive gubernatorial primary kicked off on Tuesday, shortly after President Trump hosted a rally to support GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli.
The president has criticized New Jersey, labeling it a “high-tax, high-crime sanctuary,” while expressing his backing for Ciattarelli, who previously served in the General Assembly, calling him a “champion” poised to bring the state back to Republican control.
“New Jersey is ready to break free from that blue nightmare and vote for someone who gets results,” Trump remarked in a roughly 10-minute statement.
“I urge you to support the true champion of your state – Jack Ciattarelli. He’s my friend and has been a real success,” he continued.
Ciattarelli has promised that one of his first actions would be to eliminate a policy preventing state and local governments from collaborating with federal immigration agents.
According to limited polling, Ciattarelli is viewed as trailing behind conservative radio host Bill Spadea and state senator John Bramnick in the Republican primary race.
Spadea commented on Trump’s endorsement of Ciattarelli, saying, “It’s a shame. I really wanted the President’s support. Unfortunately, he backed the polls instead of the plan.” He’s been a Trump supporter since 2015.
Trump, who owns several properties in New Jersey and frequents the Bedminster golf club, emphasized the need to “make New Jersey great again,” echoing his campaign slogan.
New Jersey and Virginia elections often serve as barometers for the president’s standing.
In 2021, Ciattarelli surprised many by losing to the incumbent Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, by a narrow margin of just over three percent.
Last November, Trump faced a 5.9% loss in New Jersey to Kamala Harris, although the margin improved by 10 points from Joe Biden’s loss in 2020.
Since Chris Christie’s second term in 2013, Republicans have yet to win a statewide office in New Jersey.
On the Democratic side, Representative Mikie Sherrill seems poised to take the primary, followed by Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Josh Gottheimer, teachers’ union president Sean Spiller, and former state senator Steve Sweeney.
Sherrill, a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor, has committed to continuing the policies established by the term-limited Murphy, positioning herself against what she describes as the overreach of Trump.
Despite New Jersey having around 800,000 more registered Democrats, independents are showing increasing dissatisfaction with state politics.
