Politics
Trump Makes Endorsement In Closely-Watched New Jersey Gubernatorial Race
President Donald Trump announced his endorsement in the tightly contested New Jersey gubernatorial Republican primary on Monday night. While New Jersey has long been classified as a blue state, Republicans are increasingly optimistic ahead of the 2026 midterm elections due to the state’s sharp trend towards Trump back in November.
After months of speculation, Trump indicated that he will be supporting former State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who delivered one of the biggest electoral surprises of the year when he was narrowly defeated by current Governor Phil Murphy in the state’s 2021 race. Murphy, who is now term-limited, won by roughly three percentage points after a number of pollsters predicted a double-digit victory.
Ciattarelli is now seeking the Republican nomination once again and appears well-positioned to do so, as he has long maintained a sizable polling advantage. The Ciattarelli Campaign recently released an internal poll showing their candidate with a 31-point lead over NJ 101.5 radio personality Bill Spadea.
Ciattarelli has a 32-point lead, 56 percent-23 percent, among likely Republican primary voters who view President Donald Trump favorably or approve of his job performance. Republicans who voted in the last three primary elections are backing Ciattarelli, 53 percent to 24 percent.
Jack Ciattarelli, Republican nominee for Governor, speaks to the press following the second gubernatorial debate at Rowan University on December 15, 2021
Now, the campaign is set to receive a massive boost as President Trump delivered his long-awaited endorsement in a social media post on Monday night.
“Jack, who after getting to know and understand MAGA, has gone ALL IN, and is now 100% (PLUS!). He is strongly supported by the most Highly Respected Leaders in New Jersey and, as your next Governor, Jack Ciattarelli will work closely with me and the Trump Administration to advance our America First Agenda,” the president posted on Truth Social.
Trump described Ciatarelli as the strongest possible ally on a number of the administration’s most important priorities, including border security, crime and energy policy.
“Also, Jack is the Republican Candidate who is best positioned to STAND TALL against the Radical Left Democrats and, most importantly, ensure a Big Victory in this Very Important Gubernatorial Election, an Election that is being closely watched by the entire World because, we are ending WOKE, and all of the other NONSENSE that goes along with it, AND NOBODY WANTS TO SEE IT COME BACK!” the president continued.
Jack Ciattarelli is a WINNER, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, ELECT JACK CIATTARELLI!
New Jersey shocked election analysts last year when the state experienced one of the widest rightward shifts in the country. Former Vice President Kamala Harris defeated Trump by just under six percentage points in the state, securing 51.8 percent of the vote to Trump’s 45.9 percent.
For comparison, President Biden carried New Jersey with 57.3 percent of the vote in 2020, while just 41.4 percent voted for Trump.
