Landslide Primary Election Win For Jack Ciattarelli In Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Republican voters in Essex County have overwhelmingly backed Jack Ciattarelli for another run at New Jersey governor in 2025.

The dust has begun to clear from Tuesday’s primary election in New Jersey, and according to uncertified results, Ciattarelli will be representing the Republican Party again this November.

With 96 percent of ballots counted, Ciattarelli had racked up 308,505 votes across New Jersey (about 67.8%) – more than triple that of Bill Spadea (99,456), according to the Associated Press. Other Republican governor candidates’ totals included: Jon Bramnick (28,121), Mario Kranjac (12,396) and Justin Barbera (6,471).

>> NJ Governor Primary Election: See Results For Democrat, GOP Races

In Essex County, the numbers were even more lopsided in the former state assemblyman’s favor, according to uncertified results from the county clerk’s office.

Here were the vote tallies in Essex County as of 11:27 a.m. on Wednesday:

• Jack Ciattarelli – 9,770 votes (77.66%)
• Bill Spadea – 1,179 votes (9.37%)
• Jon Bramnick – 875 votes (6.96%)
• Mario Kranjac – 619 votes (4.92%)
• Justin Barbera – 137 votes (1.09%)

Ciattarelli made several stops in Essex County while he was on the campaign trail earlier this year, including visits to Belleville, Fairfield, Orange, Newark and West Orange. Read More: Jack Ciattarelli Stumps In Essex County As He Runs For Governor

Learn more about his campaign platform here.

Ciattarelli – who won the GOP gubernatorial nod in 2021 – nearly beat Gov. Phil Murphy that year, getting 48 percent of the vote to Murphy’s 51.2 percent in the general election. Now, with the term-limited Murphy unable to run again, he’s back for another crack at the governor’s seat.

• See Related: Jack Is Back: Can Ciattarelli Overcome The Odds In Essex County?

Ciattarelli issued a post-election message on Tuesday, calling the primary election a “clear and convincing victory.”

“Tonight, we celebrate,” Ciattarelli said. “Tomorrow, we get back to work the only way I know how, with everything I have. All gas, no brakes. Let’s unite, let’s fight, and let’s fix our great state.”

In the Democratic race, Mikie Sherrill has emerged victorious, nailing down 34 percent of ballots statewide with 93 percent of votes counted, the AP reported.

As of Wednesday afternoon – with 97 percent of districts reported – Ras Baraka had received the most votes among Essex County Democrats (35,308), followed by Sherrill (29,427), Steven Fulop (11,651), Josh Gottheimer (5,890), Sean Spiller (4,436) and Steve Sweeney (719).

• See Related: NJ Democrats Rally Behind Mikie Sherrill After Primary Election
• See Related: Ras Baraka Pushes Progressive As His NJ Governor Bid Heats Up

TRUMP ENDORSEMENT

Ciattarelli nailed down a major endorsement in May from President Donald Trump, who wrote that the former assemblyman would “grow [the] economy” and “cut taxes and regulations.”

“Also, Jack is the Republican candidate who is best positioned to stand tall against the radical left Democrats and, most importantly, ensure a big victory in this very important gubernatorial election,” Trump wrote, pointing to Ciattarelli’s stances on illegal immigration, “American energy dominance” and the Second Amendment.

Ciattarelli replied that he was “truly humbled and honored” to receive Trump’s endorsement.

• See Related: Trump Endorses Republican Candidate In NJ Governor Race

Ciattarelli’s rivals had a split reaction to the endorsement.

Former radio host Bill Spadea immediately planted his feet in the sand, declaring that he wasn’t going anywhere. Spadea attempted to label Ciattarelli as a “fake Republican” on social media, launching a new campaign ad that blasted his opponent’s stances on taxes.

Ciattarelli has criticized Trump in the past, calling him a “charlatan” and saying he was “not fit to be president of the United States.” However, he seems to have changed his stance on Trump since those comments and was even seen at the president’s rally in Wildwood in 2020, Fox News reported.

• See Related: Republican Rivals React To Trump Endorsement In NJ Governor Race

With Trump managing to flip several counties across New Jersey last year, Ciattarelli seems primed to ride the wave left in his wake into November – and he wants people to know it.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the president’s endorsement post was still pinned to the top of Ciattarelli’s campaign social media pages.

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