Trump Endorses Ciattarelli in New Jersey Gubernatorial Race Amid Early Voting

President Donald Trump urged New Jersey voters in the gubernatorial primary to support Republican Jack Ciattarelli as early in-person voting commenced. Trump, who owns golf clubs in the state and often stays at his Bedminster property, endorsed Ciattarelli last month. During a 10-minute telephone rally, Trump highlighted Ciattarelli’s transformation from a critic to a vocal supporter and emphasized the need for change in New Jersey, describing it as a “high-tax, high-crime sanctuary state.”

Trump’s endorsement and call for early voting mirrored his strategy in the 2024 presidential election. Ciattarelli pledged that his first executive order, if elected, would be to end sanctuary policies for undocumented immigrants. He also promised that his appointed attorney general would not sue the White House, contrasting with the current attorney general’s challenges to Trump’s agenda.

Ciattarelli faces competition from Bill Spadea, Jon Bramnick, Mario Kranjac, and Justin Barbera in the Republican primary. The primary concludes on June 10, with mail-in ballots accepted since late April. Ciattarelli criticized the Democratic Party’s long-standing governance, hinting at potential attacks in the general election.

The Democratic field includes Josh Gottheimer, Mikie Sherrill, Ras Baraka, Steven Fulop, Steve Sweeney, and Sean Spiller. New Jersey leans Democratic but has a history of alternating between parties in gubernatorial elections.