The New Jersey governor’s campaign may be President Donald Trump’s first chance since returning to the White House, swinging the main Republican primary – loyalty to Trump has become the number one issue in the game.
The first two contenders, former congressman Jack Ciattarelli and radio host Bill Spadea met with Trump in late March at the president’s Bedminster, New Jersey, Golf Club, and both hoped for his approval. But it is not clear whether Trump will choose his favorites before the June 10 primary election.
"Will he or not? As we all know, President Trump can be unpredictable at times," said Jeanette Hoffman, a GOP strategist in New Jersey, who is not involved in the governor's competition.
"The main question, in general, is who is the candidate for Trump's loyalty to the campaign," Hoffman added.
This is in the context of Trump earnings in New Jersey in 2024, which is second in any state in the country. While the president still lost New Jersey with six points, it is the closest presidential score in more than three decades, suggesting Trump has built a new population coalition for the Republican Party and the prospect of a 2025 2025 governoral race potentially competitive.
Spadea and Ciattarelli told NBC News that they hadn't spoken with Trump since meeting in late March, but they brought the case to the radio waves.
Spadea launched his first TV commercial this week, airing Trump's appearance audio from a radio show last May, when Trump told Spadea that "you're back from the beginning" and criticized Ciattarelli for not asking Trump to run with him in a failed campaign during his 2021 campaign for governor.
The ad also uses artificial intelligence to portray Ciattarelli's voice, reciting his 2015 criticism that Trump is a "Sharat" and is not suitable for president.
Ciattarelli's campaign launched its own attack ad in March, including footage from Spadea, who said on a 2021 radio show that Trump "failed" and he did not want Trump to run again.
Both candidates dismissed the attack.
"Many people said things about Donald Trump in 2015 and 16 years, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance," Ciattarelli said in a telephone interview Thursday. He called Spadea's campaign "a big lie" and accused him of trying to escape his latest criticism of Trump.
Ciattarelli also declined to say whether he did not agree to any Trump's actions during his second term.
"I will certainly support what he does with the border 100%. We have to make sure our country is," Ciattarelli said. "And I know it's in progress - he warns us some short-term pain to get long-term gains. He is trying to click on the reset button for trade imbalances. Trade imbalances affect all of us and it's not an easy task."
Spadea campaign manager Tom Bonfonti accused Ciattarelli of trying to get rid of Trump criticism from his past. Spadea himself pointed out that even if he disagrees with the president’s relationship, his relationship with Trump still existed, and said in a March speech that he was “real to my history.”
Spadea told NBC News: “I’ve been with him since the escalator. “Although I’ve criticized some policy decisions, both public and private, there’s no doubt…I have a real relationship with the president and I think it’s positive.” But I've been with him and I'm 100% supportive of his agenda. ”
Spadea and Ciatarelli aren't the only ones that attract Maga bases.
Former Englewood Cliff Mayor Mario Kranjac, recognized by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, is a self-proclaimed "forever trum foot." Kranjac's campaign manager Mike Byrne said Kranjac did not speak directly with Trump, but their team kept in touch with some people in Trump's "track."
State Senator Jon Bramnick, who criticized Trump, is the fourth candidate, told NBC News that he has not yet contacted the White House. He said he would welcome the president's approval, but admit that he is unlikely to get it.
Kellyanne Conway, former Trump campaign manager and senior adviser, is working with the Pro-Ciattarelli Super Pac Kitchen Tab Table conservatives, told reporters last month that she believes Trump will recognize in the game and that he can support Ciattarelli. (Conway is not the only Trump alumni associated with the competition. His 2020 campaign manager Bill Stepien is working with Spadea's campaign.)
"I'll never be ahead of the president," Conway told NBC News. "I know he had a really good meeting and exchange with Jack and was a savvy consumer of voting data."
Ciattarelli led a public investigation on the spot and surpassed his rivals on radio waves, spending $3.2 million on advertising so far, according to ad tracking company Adimpact. Bramnick's campaign began advertising in late February. Bourne said Kranjac, who is on a self-sufficiency campaign, is expected to launch an ad soon.
Ciattarelli's latest TV station targets the energy costs of the "Trenton Democrat", which suggests that the former lawmaker may be shifting his attention to the general election.
But if Trump decides to lift weights, he will still be shaky. Trump's endorsement of racing highlights his speed at which he reshapes the Republican Party.
In the state's last governoral match in 2021, a pro-Trump candidate abruptly ended his campaign after the January 6 Capitol riot, clearing Ciattarelli's nomination path. He then lost to Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, who was unable to run again due to term limits.
At that time, Sitalelli did not run for Trump. But this year, during the February debate, Ciattarelli said along with other candidates that they would welcome Trump's campaign for Garden State.
Trump does have a different recognition record in New Jersey, and she continued to lose after recognizing Christine Serrano Glassner a month before last year’s Republican Senate primary. One of her opponents has locked in the support of the county party, which is strong in New Jersey but has had more influence on the voting positions of candidates in the past than it is now.
Spadea said if Trump picks his favorite, it could have a "huge impact" on the primary. Spadea said he had asked for Trump's approval and he also invited Trump to run in New Jersey immediately after the primary, regardless of who wins.
Ciattarelli declined to say whether he asked for Trump’s support when he met in March, but said he did want the president’s approval.
Sitalelli said he thanked Trump for temporarily stopping wind farms on the Jersey coast and slammed New York Democrats for their crowded pricing. He also said he told Trump: "It's all about how we won in New Jersey in November. He is very grateful and excited about the prospect."
As for Trump voters, he may still be skeptical.
The electoral case could bring Trump's weight. A Republican strategist, who approved anonymous talk about Trump's recognition process, noted that Trump weighed the candidate's viability in the primary and general elections when he decided to return.
"The president likes to support the winner," the strategist said.
However, Spadea believes he is a more viable candidate. He disguised himself as a major opponent of the Democrats and said he could call for "the dissatisfied Democrats who feel that their party has abandoned them", especially on a range of social issues.
Bramnick also proposed a suffrage in the primary, noting that he won a state Senate championship, with the district supporting Democrats on the top of the vote. Bramnick said he was a self-proclaimed “a pro-choice Republican” but a self-proclaimer of conservative immigration was moderate.
"Look, it's fun to have a position that you think is a strong Republican, partisan position. Guess what? You're going to lose," Bramnick said. "You're going to call on Republicans, but you need independent and moderate Democrats... Otherwise, we're going to last for 20 years in the minority."
New Jersey Republicans believe they have a real shot against the governor’s game, pointing both to Ciattarelli’s close-range losses in 2021 and to point to Trump’s 6-point loss in November to prove the party has momentum.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew said: "I think New Jerseys are really exhausted." I'm not saying they're getting crimson, tough Republicans, but they want some common sense voice. ”