President Donald Trump threw his considerable weight behind Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey’s upcoming primary, urging voters to cast their ballots early and escape what he termed a “blue horror show.” With early in-person voting commencing on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, Trump’s endorsement adds significant momentum to Ciattarelli’s campaign. The former president, a frequent visitor to his New Jersey golf clubs, held a telephone rally for Ciattarelli, highlighting the candidate’s pledge to dismantle sanctuary city policies and end what he sees as years of failed Democratic governance.
Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker, has notably shifted from a critic of Trump to a staunch supporter. During the brief phone call, Trump emphasized the choice facing New Jersey voters: continue down the path of a “high-tax, high-crime sanctuary state,” or embrace a change under Ciattarelli’s leadership. This call to action mirrored Trump’s earlier push for early voting in the 2024 presidential election, showcasing a consistent strategy across different electoral battles.
Ciattarelli’s platform includes a first executive order to end sanctuary policies, a direct challenge to the current state attorney general’s directive to limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities. He also promised an attorney general who wouldn’t challenge the White House, a stark contrast to the current AG’s numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration, including a challenge to the president’s order regarding birthright citizenship. This stance positions Ciattarelli firmly within the conservative wing of the Republican party, aligning with Trump’s core base.
The New Jersey gubernatorial primary is a crowded race, with Ciattarelli facing competition from former radio host Bill Spadea, state Senator Jon Bramnick, former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, and Justin Barbera. Early voting runs through Sunday, with the primary election scheduled for June 10th. While the primary remains unresolved, Ciattarelli has already begun hinting at potential attack lines against his Democratic opponent in the general election, emphasizing the perceived failures of the Democrats’ prolonged tenure in power.
The Democratic field is equally competitive, featuring a six-way contest between Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill; Mayors Ras Baraka of Newark and Steven Fulop of Jersey City; former state Senate President Steve Sweeney; and teachers’ union president Sean Spiller. Despite the state’s Democratic leanings in presidential and Senate elections, the governorship has seen a historical pattern of alternating between Democratic and Republican administrations, leaving the outcome of this election far from certain. The significant bloc of independent voters could prove decisive in determining the next governor of New Jersey.
