TOTOWA, NJ —
On Monday, New Jersey Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli experienced a surprise family reunion just a day before the state’s pivotal gubernatorial election.
During his first campaign stop at a local bar, Ciattarelli, addressing an enthusiastic crowd, was momentarily interrupted by his friend Peter Murphy, who is also the chairman of the Passaic County Republican Party. Murphy took the opportunity to introduce a special guest.
To Ciattarelli’s astonishment, his son Jake, an Army captain stationed in Kuwait, appeared before him, eliciting a mix of disbelief and joy from the candidate.
As he processed the surprise, he placed his hands on his head, visibly shocked, while supporters erupted in cheers of “USA, USA, USA!”
Moments later, Ciattarelli joked with Murphy and the crowd, speculating, “Let me guess. You called the president yesterday. He sent Air Force One to Kuwait. They picked up Jake. If I know this young man, he’s probably on a plane back to Kuwait this afternoon to protect our country.”
He added lightheartedly, “He’s so busy protecting our country that he probably forgot. He probably forgot to fill out his mail-in ballot. He came here to vote.”
Following the event, Ciattarelli expressed his surprise to Fox News Digital, stating, “I was really surprised. I had no idea. I had no clue. It was an amazing thrill.”
New Jersey and Virginia hold the only gubernatorial elections in the year following a presidential election, making these races highly scrutinized. The outcomes here are often viewed as indicators for the upcoming midterm elections where Republicans aim to safeguard their slim majorities in Congress.
This particular election is also marked as a crucial test for President Trump’s agenda, with Republicans historically being competitive in gubernatorial contests. In fact, they’ve won five of the last ten elections, despite New Jersey often leaning Democratic.
Although Trump won the state by a reasonable margin in the last election, his loss was reduced to just six points, a notable improvement from a 16-point deficit four years prior. While Democrats continue to outnumber Republicans in New Jersey, voter registration trends have shown Republicans gaining ground since Ciattarelli nearly defeated Governor Murphy four years ago.
Recently, Trump has been actively supporting Ciattarelli, particularly leading calls aimed at rallying MAGA supporters, many of whom are likely to turn out for non-presidential elections.
Ciattarelli remarked, “We appreciate what the president is doing to excite the base and remind us that, like all New Jerseyans, we must vote. The future of our state is at stake. Let’s get out and vote.” However, he faces challenges as Sherrill, his Democratic opponent, has consistently linked him to Trump, arguing that no Republican can truly stand against the president.
In their last debate, Sherrill challenged Ciattarelli’s stance, claiming he lacked the courage to oppose Trump, citing the president’s description of Ciattarelli as “100 percent MAGA.”
In response, Ciattarelli maintained his position, stating, “The people of New Jersey know who I am. I will fiercely defend our state’s 9 million residents every day this week.”
He’s positioning himself as a fresh alternative, criticizing the incumbent governor’s tenure and the longstanding Democratic control of the state Legislature. He stresses, “It’s all about property taxes, monthly electric bills, public safety, public education, and overdevelopment. These issues have nothing to do with the president; they stem from the Democrats who’ve run Trenton for the past 25 years.”
