Lakewood dwarfed nine New Jersey counties in delivering votes for Jack Ciattarelli in the Republican primary earlier this month, pouring in more ballots from this single township than the individual totals of Essex, Union, Cape May, Hunterdon, Warren, Hudson, Cumberland, Mercer, and Salem counties.
Ciattarelli secured a staggering 91% of the Republican primary vote in Lakewood, racking up more than 10,200 votes in a field of five candidates. That margin — dwarfing his nearest challenger, Bill Spadea, who managed just over 600 votes in the township — provided Ciattarelli with a significant base as he cruised to victory across the state.
Lakewood’s contribution stood out not only for its sheer volume — accounting for over 11,000 Republican ballots cast — but for the overwhelming unity among GOP voters in the township, which delivered Ciattarelli a 85-point margin of victory there.
By comparison, other large Republican strongholds like Toms River and Middletown showed far more divided races, with Ciattarelli winning 68% and 67% of the vote respectively. In Brick Township, he took a narrower 57% of the vote.
Lakewood’s reliable and organized Republican voting bloc has become a growing factor in statewide primaries, with turnout and unity exceeding those of many other communities. The township’s Orthodox Jewish community, which often votes as a cohesive bloc after community leaders offer endorsements, was a key reason for Ciattarelli’s decisive margin.
As Ciattarelli pivots to a general election likely to draw fierce Democratic opposition, his commanding numbers in Lakewood hint at the powerful coalition he will lean on to reclaim the governor’s mansion after his close loss in 2021.