Republican Jack Ciattarelli is seeking his third run for New Jersey governor, aiming to capitalize on the momentum he gained from his close challenge against incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021.
In a passionate address to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters at the historic American Hotel, a place where Abraham Lincoln once stayed on his journey to the White House in 1861, Ciattarelli vowed to lead New Jersey in a new direction after two terms under Murphy’s left-leaning administration. Ciattarelli reiterated his commitment to the promises he made during his previous two campaigns for governor: reducing taxes, advocating for school choice, revamping the public school curriculum to include age-appropriate lessons, and pushing for a constitutional amendment to establish term limits for state lawmakers.
Murphy’s Covid-19 policies, sky-high taxes, excessive suburban development, and plans for offshore windmills have come under heavy criticism.
Ciattarelli, a former business owner and three-term state Assemblymember, believes that what New Jersey needs right now is a practical problem solver – a CEO who is not afraid to get their hands dirty and take charge. He confidently states, “I think I know a guy.”
Ciattarelli and state Sen. Jon Bramnick are both vying for the Republican nomination for governor, with other contenders also considering joining the race. In a recently released video, Bramnick highlighted his past successes in winning elections, specifically in a legislative district where Democrats outnumber Republicans and President Joe Biden emerged victorious in 2020.
In 2017, he made his initial bid for the Republican nomination but was ultimately defeated by then-Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who went on to lose the general election to Murphy.
“Political pundits across the country were left scratching their heads, wondering how a candidate with a name that most people struggled to pronounce managed to defy the odds,” Ciattarelli, pronounced as chet-a-rell-ee, remarked.
“We came so close to unseating an incumbent governor in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by one million. It’s incredible how we managed to achieve this feat in all 21 counties and 564 towns, and it was all thanks to people like you.”
The close call had a political impact in the Statehouse, prompting Murphy and Democratic leaders to focus more on affordability and the creation of new tax rebate programs.
Ciattarelli believes that more needs to be done to address the issues facing New Jersey. Despite efforts to reduce property taxes, the state still holds the highest-in-the-nation rates. Additionally, he points out that state spending has reached unprecedented levels, making it difficult for residents to retire comfortably in New Jersey. To provide relief, Ciattarelli pledges to cap property taxes for homeowners at 1 percent and freeze them for individuals aged 70 and above. He also plans to lower business taxes, aiming to make New Jersey more competitive with states like Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Ciattarelli suggests two reforms for public schools: one focuses on the school funding formula that determines the amount of state aid each district receives, while the other addresses the curriculum. During his previous campaign, Ciattarelli capitalized on the frustration among Republicans regarding sex education standards and the obligation to teach diversity and tolerance.
Ciattarelli’s latest proposal revolves around the implementation of term limits. He passionately expressed his determination to limit the tenure of state legislators to a maximum of eight years, emphasizing the importance of embracing change rather than shying away from it.
Making those ideas a reality may be challenging, especially if the Democrats are in control of the Legislature. However, previous Republican governors have successfully negotiated with Democrats. Ciattarelli believes that he has the ability to persuade Democrats to support his ideas, while also maintaining his independence and not yielding to Democratic Party leaders over casual meals. This comment appears to be a subtle dig at Bramnick and his close association with Governor Murphy.