Ciattarelli Addresses Trump Criticism in NJ Rally

OLD BRIDGE, N.J. — Republican gubernatorial hopeful Jack Ciattarelli rebutted a prominent critique about his ties to President Trump during a lively rally in central New Jersey this week.

“If you get a flat tire on your way home, somehow it’s President Trump’s fault,” Ciattarelli joked, a familiar line from his campaign speeches that elicited laughter from the audience.

He continued, “There’s nothing she won’t pin on the president,” referring to his Democratic challenger, Rep. Mikie Sherrill.

On a chilly evening, most of the crowd — many donning MAGA hats — were fellow Republicans, which gave the event a familiar vibe.

Trump’s influence has been a significant factor in the race, providing Sherrill with plenty of ammunition against Ciattarelli. This situation starkly contrasts with Ciattarelli’s previous gubernatorial campaign in 2021, when Trump wasn’t as central following his 2020 election defeat. Back then, Ciattarelli lost by roughly three percentage points.

Now, Ciattarelli is treading a careful line. He needs to appeal to Trump’s enthusiastic base while also courting moderate voters who might be put off by Trump’s presence.

“If Trump wasn’t in the White House, Ciattarelli would have won by 12 points,” remarked Jersey City Mayor Stephen Fulop, who previously ran against Sherrill in the primaries.

Trump surprised many last year with a strong showing in New Jersey, outperforming expectations by beating former Vice President Kamala Harris by about six points, a stark improvement from his 16-point loss there in 2020.

Yet, Trump’s approval numbers in the state aren’t great, sitting at 40% with a disapproval rating of 56%. In comparison, Democratic Governor Phil Murphy has a slightly better approval rating of 45% and a disapproval rate of 47%, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll.

In a debate earlier this month, Ciattarelli and Sherrill faced the challenge of addressing both Trump and Murphy, who have become figures of contention for each other.

Ciattarelli awarded Trump an enthusiastic “A,” while Sherrill cautiously rated Murphy with a “B.”

“It’s a tricky question for Ciattarelli because he needs to give Trump that A but must also recognize that Trump isn’t popular here,” said Dan Cassino, executive director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll.

Ciattarelli has consistently maneuvered around some of Trump’s less popular policies, including the deployment of the National Guard and cuts to federal funding for the Gateway Tunnel project, both of which have met with local backlash.

While Sherrill has campaigned alongside notable Democratic figures like former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and even Barack Obama, Ciattarelli hasn’t shared a stage with Trump in this campaign. Instead, he participated in a video conference with Trump recently, who has made posts on social media urging his supporters to back Ciattarelli.

When asked if Trump had negatively impacted his campaign, Ciattarelli replied, “I haven’t been hurt in the slightest.” He added that Trump had improved his standing in New Jersey compared to the previous election cycle.

He pointed to Trump’s efforts against New York City’s congestion tolls and the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which expanded state and local tax deductions, as positive influences for the state.

“The real issue is the failures of the current administration,” Ciattarelli said, to which his supporters readily agreed.

“Honestly, Trump doesn’t have a significant effect on New Jersey,” commented voter Bill Montanaro from Spring Lake. He expressed frustration over out-of-state politicians taking office in New Jersey.

“We’re tired of the carpetbagger governors. We’ve had enough of this,” he stated.

Gerald Murphy, a 62-year-old from Essex County, echoed these sentiments. Having attended several Ciattarelli events, he voiced frustration about the constant blame placed on Trump.

“Let’s set Trump aside. What have the Democrats actually done for folks here in New Jersey?” he asked, reflecting on his past as a registered Democrat before switching to the Republican Party last year.