Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is once again making his case to Ocean County Republicans as he seeks the party’s nomination for governor in 2025. However, as he prepares to address the county GOP screening committee, Ciattarelli is questioning the fairness of the endorsement process, alleging financial conflicts of interest involving Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore and rival candidate Bill Spadea.
Ciattarelli, who won Ocean County’s GOP endorsement in 2021 before securing 67.5% of the vote in the general election, expressed skepticism about his chances this time around. “It is the worst-kept secret in New Jersey politics that Chairman Gilmore is on the payroll of Bill Spadea’s political organization to the tune of $85,000 (and counting), lining his pockets at the expense of your proud organization’s credibility,” he wrote in a statement.
He accused Gilmore of attempting to manipulate the process in favor of Spadea, calling it “an attempt to rig your process and put Ocean County’s support up for sale.” Ciattarelli further suggested that Gilmore’s actions mirror tactics allegedly used by the Democratic National Committee to tilt the presidential nomination toward Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Frankly, it’s as if he has stolen a page from the DNC’s behind-the-scenes campaign to hand the nomination to Kamala Harris last year. We all know how that worked out,” he said.
Despite his concerns, Ciattarelli expressed gratitude for the support he has received from Ocean County Republicans, many of whom, he claims, have privately voiced frustration over the endorsement process. “Many are embarrassed and frustrated by how the county’s endorsement process is being conducted,” he stated, adding that some fear retaliation from Gilmore for opposing Spadea.
In contrast to Spadea, whom he accused of avoiding GOP county conventions, Ciattarelli positioned himself as a candidate willing to take on tough fights. “Unlike Mr. Spadea—who is thumbing his nose at the thousands of duly elected Republican County Committee persons around the state by refusing to participate in other GOP County Conventions—I don’t run from tough fights. That’s why I am campaigning in Newark, Camden, Paterson, and elsewhere,” he said.
Ciattarelli emphasized that Ocean County remains critical to his strategy for victory in both the primary and general elections. “Ocean County has been and will continue to be integral to my path to victory,” he said. “I look forward to working and winning with you as we flip New Jersey later this year.”
