After another strong poll performance, the Republican favorite hits familiar ground to rally support ahead of the June 10 primary.
Jack Ciattarelli, the clear frontrunner in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, brought his campaign back to where it all began—Somerset County—for an upbeat and personal town hall that felt more like a homecoming than a campaign stop.
Just hours after a Friday morning poll reaffirmed his lead in the GOP primary field, Ciattarelli greeted over 100 enthusiastic supporters at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Branchburg. The room was packed, with people standing in the back, and a familiar buzz in the air. This was friendly territory—and it showed.
“It’s great to be home,” Ciattarelli told the crowd, reflecting on a whirlwind campaign that’s taken him through 564 towns and 600 diners across the Garden State.
That line drew laughter and applause, and it set the tone for a gathering that was more intimate conversation than political rally. Ciattarelli, who represented Somerset in the state Assembly for nearly a decade, knew many in the room by name. He exchanged jokes with his former high school basketball coach—though he didn’t comment on his defensive skills.
Polls Favor Ciattarelli, But He’s Campaigning Like Nothing’s Guaranteed
While the numbers are in his favor, Ciattarelli isn’t coasting. The June 10 GOP primary is still weeks away, but he’s already running with the confidence—and intensity—of a general election candidate.
He’s facing off against conservative radio host Bill Spadea and moderate State Senator Jon Bramnick. But Ciattarelli made it clear he believes neither has the broader appeal or unifying message the GOP needs to win statewide in blue-leaning New Jersey.
“They’re not about party unity,” he said. “And that’s the only way we win in November.”
That unity, he noted, is critical in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 900,000 registered voters—though, notably, the GOP has been narrowing that margin in recent years.
Eyes on the Bigger Picture: Assembly Seats, School Funding, and Downtown Revival
Already looking beyond the primary, Ciattarelli shared a wide-ranging vision for New Jersey under a Republican-led administration. He spoke about flipping 13 Assembly seats to take control of the lower house, an ambitious goal in a year when the state Senate isn’t on the ballot.
From policy to rhetoric, Ciattarelli leaned into his conservative bona fides:
- School Funding Reform: He promised a complete overhaul of New Jersey’s school funding formula, a hot-button issue that resonates across suburban and urban districts alike.
- Downtown Redevelopment: Instead of sprawl and strip malls, he wants to focus on revitalizing downtown areas and main streets to bring vibrancy back to local economies.
- Ending Cashless Bail: In a nod to the party’s law-and-order base, he pledged to reverse the state’s bail reform law, a policy first enacted under former Governor Chris Christie.
- Supreme Court Appointments: Ciattarelli made headlines with a bold promise—not just to appoint conservatives to the state Supreme Court, but “ultra-conservatives.”
Aiming Straight at Murphy—and a Second Chance
Ciattarelli’s message is clear: he’s not just running for governor; he’s running against Governor Phil Murphy and the Democratic agenda of the last eight years.
“The Democrats care about pronouns. Republicans care about property taxes,” he quipped, using a line he’s repeated on the trail to contrast cultural issues with economic concerns.
This isn’t his first run at the governor’s mansion. In 2021, Ciattarelli came within four points of unseating Murphy—an unexpectedly strong performance that turned heads across the political spectrum. He believes this time could be different.
“Too many Republicans stayed home last time,” he told the crowd. “This year, don’t let that happen. Don’t let anyone stay home.”
He’s banking on what he calls a “wind at our back” moment for the GOP, driven by voter fatigue after two Murphy terms and a hunger for change. Still, there are national headwinds to consider—Donald Trump’s approval ratings remain under 50%, and market instability could shift the political climate quickly.
A Confident Campaign With Cautious Optimism
While Ciattarelli exudes confidence, he hasn’t lost sight of the unpredictable nature of politics in a purple-leaning state like New Jersey. He acknowledged the old political adage that “the only poll that counts is on Election Day,” a nod to both humility and political savvy.
Whether that wind at his back carries him to Trenton remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: Jack Ciattarelli is not waiting for a nomination to start acting like the nominee.
Stay tuned with Explore New Jersey for continuing coverage of the 2025 gubernatorial race, candidate town halls, and the political issues that matter most to Garden State voters.