Politics
NEW: Dem Lawmaker Flips, Endorses GOP Gubernatorial Candidate
A Democrat councilman in Bergen County, New Jersey announced Wednesday that he would be flipping to the Republican Party and endorsing GOP gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli’s campaign, becoming the latest Garden State Democrat to do so.
Alpine Councilman David Kupferschmid, who will now serve as the council’s lone Republican, said the Democratic Party has become increasingly “unrecognizable” to him in making his announcement. The councilman pointed to the rise of Zohran Mamdani in neighboring New York, the pro-communist candidate who is heavily favored to become the next mayor of New York City.
“The Democrat Party does not represent us anymore,” Kupferschmid said. “With my switch, I will now be the first Republican on the council in more than 20 years. I hope that this is the beginning of a resurgence for the Republican Party in Alpine where alternate voices are much needed on the governing body.”
Kupferschmid was first elected in 2023 and is up for re-election next year.
In 2021, Ciattarelli carried Alpine by about 18 percentage points, while President Donald Trump carried the community in last year’s presidential election. Despite Republican victories in statewide and federal elections, Democrats have continuously dominated local elections. A Republican has not been elected to the city council in over 20 years, the New Jersey Globe noted.
With a population of just over 1,750 residents, Alpine is the third-smallest community in Bergen County.
“While Sherrill refuses to denounce the far left radicals in her party, Jack Ciattarelli has been appealing to all sides with a common sense message that includes putting the brakes on over-development and cleaning up crime, both of which are critical issues for Alpine,” Kupferschmid said.
🚨 WOW! In a sign of momentum, DEMOCRAT Alpine, New Jersey Councilman David Kupferschmid flips REPUBLICAN and endorses JACK CIATTARELLI for governor.
This is huge. Democrats in NJ continue to support Ciattarelli.
"With my switch, I will now be the first Republican on the… pic.twitter.com/wVQmTAyfwK
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 22, 2025
Ciattarelli has picked up a number of endorsements from Democrat mayors and other lawmakers as he seeks to pull off an upset win over U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) in the deep blue state.
Elsewhere in Bergen County, Garfield Mayor Everett E. Garnto, Jr. also defected from the Democratic Party and endorsed the Republican candidate. The North Jersey county, which swung to the right in 2024, is often viewed as a bellwether in the state.
Ciattarelli has also garnered the endorsement of Dover Mayor James P. Dodd and Garfield Deputy Mayor Tana Raymond, both Democrats. They were among the local Democratic officials who endorsed former Gov. Chris Christie in his 2013 reelection campaign.
Also backing Ciattarelli is Jamel Holley, a Democrat who served in the State Assembly and as mayor of Roselle, the Globe reports.
Oscar James II, a former Newark City Councilman, stated that he will have no choice but to vote across party lines due to his disgust with the Democratic nominee. “When you talk to everyday people, the people picking up the kids when I’m picking up my kids, the people in the grocery line…she does not relate to Democratic voters,” he said of Rep. Sherrill , the Democrat nominee, while speaking with the New York Post.
James, who served on the City Council from 2006 to 2010, further accused Sherrill of being out of touch with “regular everyday people.” Sherrill’s focus on national issues and an obsession with linking Ciattarelli with President Donald Trump is what compelled James to look towards the Republican Party, he explained.
“People want to hear what she has to offer, not that this is a vote against Trump — and she’s not talking about what she has to offer,” the former councilman said.
