In a highly competitive Open Race for Governor, Republican Nominee Jack Ciattarelli challenged Democrat Mikie Sherrill. Ciattarelli ended up losing Ciattarelli’s successful campaign for New Jersey’s 2025 general election. This was Ciattarelli’s second try for the state’s highest office. He was a candidate in 2017. His campaign successfully focused on affordability, while at the same time leaning into culture war fights over gender identity and immigration.
Ciattarelli made waves early in the campaign when he won Donald Trump’s endorsement. This endorsement was widely reported as a key turning point in his campaign to identify and mobilize likely Republican primary voters. His campaign was criticized for mixed messaging, especially concerning his changing position on marriage equality. While on the campaign trail this year, Ciattarelli made no secret of his support for marriage equality. Rewind to 2012, when he was still a state assemblymember—he voted against a state bill to legalize same-sex marriage. His campaign made headlines when an ally publicly announced that they were pushing a same-sex marriage ban in New Jersey. That sent constituents into a flurry of alarmed and curious action.
Despite these controversies, Ciattarelli aimed to present a balanced approach that resonated with voters concerned about the cost of living. His successful strategy was to pair economic concerns with pitched cultural warfare. This unique dual focus didn’t manifest itself in the electoral success he’d wanted.
In the run-up to the election, Ciattarelli surprised everyone by losing to incumbent Governor Phil Murphy in a closer-than-expected 2021 election. This unexpected result would soon prove to be the incubator for his nascent campaign today. He even failed to denounce comments made about a helicopter that featured a depiction of Sherrill’s campaign logo. This silence drew criticism from Democratic Party Chairman Leroy Jones, who stated, “A lot of people made fun of the helicopter,” highlighting the contentious nature of the race.
Ciattarelli’s campaign was viewed as a litmus test for Donald Trump’s ongoing influence within Republican circles. As a former state representative, Ciattarelli wanted to use his political experience and needed to, given the party’s dynamics. This balance turned out to be quite difficult, as controversies related to identity politics started to take center stage.