New Jersey Democrats break with party to endorse Ciattarelli
several New Jersey Democrats, primarily at the municipal level, have broken party ranks to endorse Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli in the gubernatorial race against Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill. Notable endorsements include North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, Dover Mayor Jim Dodd, and other local officials who cited issues such as immigration policy and economic concerns as reasons for their support.the brooklyn-based moderate group New era Democrats also endorsed ciattarelli. Despite these cross-party endorsements, many state Democrats continue to support Sherrill. The election is expected to be close,with the Cook political Report rating New Jersey as leaning Democratic. A Ciattarelli victory would return Republicans to gubernatorial power in the state for the first time as Chris Christie.
New Jersey Democrats break with party to endorse Ciattarelli for governor
The Republican candidate for governor in New Jersey, Jack Ciattarelli, has garnered some support from state Democrats in his race against Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ).
The support mostly amounts to municipal politicians, with state Democrats having largely coalesced around Sherrill.
Some of the most notable endorsements of Ciattarelli include North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, North Bergen Commissioner Allen Pascual, Dover Mayor Jim Dodd, Garfield Mayor Everett Garnto Jr., Branchville Mayor Anthony Frato Sr., Branchville Councilman Jeff Lewis, and former Hudson County Democratic Organization Chairman Anthony Vainieri.
Sacco, who leads a township of more than 60,000 people, is one of the more notable nods. The former longtime state senator backed Ciattarelli during his feud with Union City Mayor Brian Stack, who contributed to his state Senate retirement as redistricting forced the pair to face off.
After Sacco’s endorsement, Stack gave his nod to Sherrill. The endorsement, from the mayor of a city of more than 68,000 people, effectively canceled out Sacco’s support. Sacco is still considered a power player in one of the state’s largest counties, Hudson County.
“I am proud to stand alongside Jack Ciattarelli at our annual Mayor’s Ball to formally endorse his candidacy,” Sacco said. “The welfare and well-being of our North Bergen residents are more important than party lines.”
Dodd cited immigration policy as a primary reason for his endorsement of Ciattarelli.
“On day one [of his campaign], Jack made a commitment to end sanctuary cities, and the state of New Jersey will no longer be a sanctuary state. We need to let our law enforcement do their job. And I see these constant problems here in my small community in the town of Dover, and we need real solutions,” he said.
“We don’t hear real solutions from Mikie,” he added.
The Republican also earned a nod from the Brooklyn-based New Era Democrats, a moderate Democratic organization. It endorsed Republican Lee Zeldin, now the administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, for New York governor in 2022.
“As life continues to become unaffordable for the working class and New Jersey continues to be one of the highest taxed states in the country, Jack is the right person that is needed to make life more affordable for the residents of the Garden State,” the group’s president, Celia Iervasi, said.
“We look forward to joining a coalition of organizations that are supporting Jack in the upcoming election and know that he is the right person to lead New Jersey in the right direction,” Iervasi added.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE TWO CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR IN NEW JERSEY
The race is projected to be close. Election forecaster Cook Political Report rated the state as “Lean Democrat.”
If Ciattarelli wins, he’ll put Republicans back in power in the state for the first time since former Gov. Chris Christie left office.
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