Trump-Backed NJ Governor Candidate Addresses NYC Residents: ‘Join Us’

Jack Ciattarelli, the Trump-endorsed candidate for governor of New Jersey, is urging New York City residents to move across the George Washington Bridge after far-left radical Zohran Mamdani clinched the Democratic Party nomination in the city’s mayoral race.

“Tonight is proof that the modern Democratic Party has lost its mind,” Ciattarelli posted on X.

“To all the residents and business owners of New York City who don’t want a socialist, defund the police, antisemitic mayor representing them, I encourage you to move to New Jersey,” the Trump-backed candidate continued. “When I win the governorship in 4+ months, we’re going to transform NJ into a beacon of commonsense, affordability, economic opportunity, and law and order,” Ciattarelli continued before conducing the post with, “Join us! It’s time.”

It remains to be seen whether Mamandi’s likely election will galvanize support for Ciattarelli, as millions of New Jersey residents live in the New York metropolitan area.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate is already contrasting his vision for the state with that of Mamdani, who has openly endorsed a communist platform, called for the police to be defunded and wants to implement government-owned grocery stores.

In a follow-up post Wednesday, Ciattarelli vowed to “be proactive in protecting our state from the lawlessness and chaos that will ensue if [Zohran Mamdani] becomes New York City’s next mayor. As I said last night, as Governor, I will also transform NJ into a beacon of affordability, law-and-order, economic opportunity, and common sense for New Yorkers who are rightfully afraid about the future of their city as a place to raise a family or start a business under [Mandani’s] extreme policies.”

He also promised to work with state, county and local law enforcement in order to “beef up” police patrols in Northern New Jersey as a counterweight to the far-left candidate’s “defund the police” policies. In addition, Ciattarelli vowed to follow President Donald Trump’s lead in cracking down on sanctuary cities in order to “take the handcuffs off of law enforcement so they can cooperate with ICE and keep our communities safe.”

Additional policy points listed in the lengthy X thread include defense of Garden State zoning laws, reduction in business, income and property taxes, and a rejection of Mamdani’s antisemitic “globalize the intifada” rhetoric.

As the next Governor of NJ, I will be proactive in protecting our state from the lawlessness and chaos that will ensue if @ZohranKMamdani becomes NYC’s next Mayor.  While NJ Democrats roll over to their extreme far-left base, I will take action to protect New Jersey. 🧵

— Jack Ciattarelli (@Jack4NJ) June 25, 2025

According to a recent poll from National Research, Ciattarelli is trailing Democrat challenger Mikie Sherrill by just three percentage points in the deep blue stronghold. A sizable number of respondents, 12 percent, remain undecided.

For comparison, a National Research survey conducted in June of 2021 found incumbent Democrat Governor Phil Murphy, who is set to be term-limited, leading Ciattarelli by 12 percentage points. Murphy enjoyed a massive polling advantage leading up to Election Day, though the race ended up being razor close despite a massive fundraising advantage for the Democrat incumbent.

Murphy ultimately won by roughly three percentage points after polling averages projected a double-digit victory.