Jack Ciattarelli: Difference between revisions

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===Donald Trump===

===Donald Trump===

Ciattarelli called [[Donald Trump]] a “charlatan” in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 10, 2015|title=Central Jersey GOP lawmaker: Trump a ‘charlatan’ embarrassing our country|url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/10/jack-ciattarelli-vs-donald-trump/77115510/|access-date=December 10, 2015|website=my Central Jersey|language=en-US}}</ref> but in ensuing years softened this stance and supported Trump’s [[Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign|2020 reelection bid]]. After the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]], Ciattarelli headlined a “[[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|Stop the Steal]]” rally, an event where speakers claimed that the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 U.S. presidential election]] had been stolen from then-President Trump. Ciattarelli said he was unaware it was a Stop the Steal rally until after the fact.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 16, 2021|title=Eight Times Jack Ciattarelli Lied About Headlining a Trump “Stop the Steal” Rally|url=https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/eight-times-jack-ciattarelli-lied-headlining-trump-stop-steal-rally/|access-date=October 21, 2021|website=Insider NJ|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 29, 2021|title=NJ governor’s race gets heated, with attacks on Trump, taxes|url=https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-donald-trump-business-new-jersey-health-21b61c9717ba2620097ad2d4f2112194|access-date=October 21, 2021|website=AP NEWS|language=en}}</ref> Ciattarelli endorsed Trump in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 election]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wildstein |first=David |author-link=David Wildstein |date=March 8, 2024 |title=Ciattarelli endorses Trump |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/ciattarelli-endorses-trump/ |access-date=September 22, 2024 |work=New Jersey Globe}}</ref> Trump in turn endorsed him in the 2025 election.<ref name=”Endorsed”>{{cite web |last1=Fox |first1=Joey |title=Trump endorses Ciattarelli for governor, cementing him as clear GOP frontrunner |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/trump-endorses-ciattarelli-for-governor-cementing-him-as-clear-gop-frontrunner/ |website=[[New Jersey Globe]] |date=May 12, 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}}</ref> Prior to this endorsement his main primary challenger, [[Bill Spadea]], attacked him as a [[RINO]] due to his previous anti-Trump comments.<ref name=”Endorsed”/> In 2025, Ciattarelli said he would rate Trump’s performance in his second term [[Academic grading in the United States|as an “A”]].<ref name=”Nick Corasaniti></ref>

Ciattarelli called [[Donald Trump]] a “charlatan” in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 10, 2015|title=Central Jersey GOP lawmaker: Trump a ‘charlatan’ embarrassing our country|url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/10/jack-ciattarelli-vs-donald-trump/77115510/|access-date=December 10, 2015|website=my Central Jersey|language=en-US}}</ref> but in ensuing years softened this stance and supported Trump’s [[Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign|2020 reelection bid]]. After the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]], Ciattarelli headlined a “[[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|Stop the Steal]]” rally, an event where speakers claimed that the 2020 election had been stolen from then-President Trump. Ciattarelli said he was unaware it was a Stop the Steal rally until after the fact.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 16, 2021|title=Eight Times Jack Ciattarelli Lied About Headlining a Trump “Stop the Steal” Rally|url=https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/eight-times-jack-ciattarelli-lied-headlining-trump-stop-steal-rally/|access-date=October 21, 2021|website=Insider NJ|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 29, 2021|title=NJ governor’s race gets heated, with attacks on Trump, taxes|url=https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-donald-trump-business-new-jersey-health-21b61c9717ba2620097ad2d4f2112194|access-date=October 21, 2021|website=AP NEWS|language=en}}</ref> Ciattarelli endorsed Trump in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 election]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wildstein |first=David |author-link=David Wildstein |date=March 8, 2024 |title=Ciattarelli endorses Trump |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/ciattarelli-endorses-trump/ |access-date=September 22, 2024 |work=New Jersey Globe}}</ref> Trump in turn endorsed him in the 2025 election.<ref name=”Endorsed”>{{cite web |last1=Fox |first1=Joey |title=Trump endorses Ciattarelli for governor, cementing him as clear GOP frontrunner |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/trump-endorses-ciattarelli-for-governor-cementing-him-as-clear-gop-frontrunner/ |website=[[New Jersey Globe]] |date=May 12, 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025}}</ref> Prior to this endorsement his main primary challenger, [[Bill Spadea]], attacked him as a [[RINO]] due to his previous anti-Trump comments.<ref name=”Endorsed”/> In 2025, Ciattarelli said he would rate Trump’s performance in his second term [[Academic grading in the United States|as an “A”]].<ref name=”Nick Corasaniti></ref>

===Immigration===

===Immigration===

American politician and businessman (born 1961)

Giacchino Michael “Jack” Ciattarelli ( CHIT-ə-REL-ee; born December 12, 1961) is an American politician and businessman. A member of the Republican Party, he represented the 16th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2011 to 2018. Previously, he served on the Raritan Borough Council and the Somerset County Board of Freeholders. He was also the Republican nominee for governor of New Jersey in 2021 and 2025, narrowly losing the 2021 election to Governor Phil Murphy and losing the 2025 election in a landslide to U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill.

Early life and education

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Ciattarelli was born in Somerville, New Jersey[1] on December 12, 1961,[2][3] and was raised in neighboring Raritan. His paternal grandparents had immigrated to Raritan borough in the 1900s from Valentano, Lazio, Italy.[4] He graduated from Seton Hall University with a B.S. degree in accounting and an M.B.A. degree in finance.[2][5]

Raritan Borough Council (1990–1995)

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Ciattarelli served on the Raritan Borough Council from 1990 to 1995 and was the council president from 1991 until 1995. Ciattarelli chose not to seek re-election in 1995, instead focusing on his business career.[3]

Somerset County Board of Freeholders (2007–2011)

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After 10 years away from politics, Ciattarelli was elected to the Somerset County Board of Freeholders. He served on the Board of Freeholders from 2007 to November 2011.[3]

New Jersey General Assembly (2011–2018)

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Ciattarelli in 2016

In 2011, Ciattarelli ran for the open General Assembly seat in the 16th legislative district, vacated by Denise Coyle, who chose not to run for re-election due to redistricting. On November 8, 2011, he and his running mate Peter J. Biondi defeated the Democratic candidates, Marie Corfield and Joe Camarota. Each of New Jersey’s 40 state legislative districts has one Senator and two members in the General Assembly.[6] Biondi died two days after the election. After stepping down from his freeholder position, Ciattarelli was sworn in on December 5, 2011,[7] to complete Biondi’s unexpired term, and was sworn in for his first full term on January 10, 2012.[8] He served on the Financial Institutions and Insurance and the Regulated Professions committees in the Assembly. He had previously served as an Assistant Republican Whip.[2]

Ciattarelli chose not to seek for re-election in 2017 to instead run for governor.[3] His term in the General Assembly ended on January 9, 2018.

New Jersey gubernatorial campaigns

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In the 2017 Republican primary for governor of New Jersey, Ciattarelli finished in second place with 31% of the vote. Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno won the primary with 47% of the vote.[9][10]

In 2021, Ciattarelli ran for governor of New Jersey again. This time, he won the Republican primary receiving 49% of the vote.[11] Although Ciattarelli outperformed expectations,[12] he lost the general election to incumbent governor Phil Murphy, receiving 48.0% of the vote to Murphy’s 51.2%.[13] Ciattarelli conceded the race to Murphy on November 12, 2021.[14][15][16]

Ciattarelli was the Republican nominee in the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election.[17][18] He was endorsed by President Donald Trump in the Republican primary, and won the contest on June 10 with approximately 68% of the vote.[19][20][21]

Ciattarelli faced Democratic U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill in the 2025 general election.[22][23]

During his campaign, Ciattarelli invited Benny Johnson and Jack Posobiec to speak at his campaign rally in Wildwood, New Jersey. During the rally, Posobiec called for the United States Department of Justice to prosecute critics of Donald Trump. Ciattarelli additionally campaigned alongside an anti-vaccine activist, and espoused positions closer to that of the MAGA movement than in his previous campaigns for governor.[24][25]

Ciattarelli lost the general election to Sherrill on November 4, 2025 and conceded the race that evening.[26]

Ciattarelli is the former owner and publisher of Galen Publishing, L.L.C., a medical publishing company. He has worked as a certified public accountant and was the co-founder of several medical journal publishing companies.[2][27][better source needed] He was also an adjunct professor at Seton Hall from 1998 to 2001.[27][better source needed]

Political positions

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Ciattarelli speaks to the press following the second gubernatorial debate at Rowan University on October 12, 2021

Ciattarelli has said he is in favor of abortion rights prior to 20 weeks of pregnancy but supports banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy (except in cases where the patient’s life is in danger), and did not support overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling which conferred the constitutional right to abortion.[28]

Ciattarelli called Donald Trump a “charlatan” in 2015,[29] but in ensuing years softened this stance and supported Trump’s 2020 reelection bid. After the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Ciattarelli headlined a “Stop the Steal” rally, an event where speakers claimed that the 2020 election had been stolen from then-President Trump. Ciattarelli said he was unaware it was a Stop the Steal rally until after the fact.[30][31] Ciattarelli endorsed Trump in the 2024 election.[32] Trump in turn endorsed him in the 2025 election.[33] Prior to this endorsement his main primary challenger, Bill Spadea, attacked him as a RINO due to his previous anti-Trump comments.[33] In 2025, Ciattarelli said he would rate Trump’s performance in his second term as an “A”.[24]

On immigration, he reversed his opposition to drivers’ licenses being issued to undocumented immigrants, saying he now supports access to drivers’ licenses.[34]

In 2012, Ciattarelli voted against a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. He has also voted to ban conversion therapy for minors.[35]

In 2021, he expressed opposition to New Jersey laws regarding LGBTQ education, saying, “We’re not teaching sodomy in sixth grade. And we’re going to roll back the LGBTQ curriculum.”[36] Following criticism for his use of the term “sodomy”,[35] Ciattarelli clarified he had not meant the word in regard to “someone’s sexual orientation”, but was referring to “mature content being taught to young children”; he added that “all schools should be promoting diversity, inclusivity, tolerance, and respect for others, but that doesn’t mean pushing explicit subjects in elementary school classrooms”.[36][37] In his platform, Ciattarelli stated that he wished to “reform requirements for sexual and social education to make content less dogmatic and more age-appropriate for elementary and middle school-aged children”.[38]

At an October 2025 rally, an unpaid adviser to Ciattarelli’s gubernatorial campaign asserted that Ciattarelli would attempt to roll back same-sex marriage in New Jersey if he were elected. After these remarks created a controversy, Ciattarelli took to social media to express his support for same-sex marriage.[39]

Ciattarelli was married to Melinda Ciattarelli and has four adult children.[40] In June 2023, Ciattarelli announced that he and Melinda had separated earlier in the year.[41] They divorced in 2025.[42]

Ciattarelli was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2016 and revealed that he was cancer-free in March 2017.[43]

  1. ^ Ciattarelli, Jack (June 1, 2025). “To fix our state, we need common sense: I’m Jack Ciattarelli, running for N.J. governor”. NJ.com.
  2. ^ a b c d “Assemblyman Jack M. Ciattarelli”. New Jersey Legislature. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Fox, Joey (July 31, 2024). “A brief electoral history of Jack Ciattarelli”. New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  4. ^ Burns, P. Kenneth (November 23, 2025). “Race to watch: What to know about Jack Ciattarelli, New Jersey’s GOP gubernatorial candidate”. WHYY. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  5. ^ “Assistant Republican Whip Jack M. Ciattarelli”. New Jersey Assembly Republicans. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  6. ^ Brill, Douglas B. (November 9, 2011). “New Jersey 16th District election results: Republican sweep closer than expected”. The Express-Times. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  7. ^ “Jack M. Ciattarelli was sworn in as a member of the General Assembly for the 16th Legislative District” (PDF). New Jersey Legislative Digest. December 5, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  8. ^ “Turnover in N.J. Legislature is slight”. Asbury Park Press. January 10, 2012. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  9. ^ Nieto-Munoz, Sophie. “Despite strong run, Ciattarelli falls short of Republican nomination”, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 14, 2017. Accessed November 12, 2017. “Many Democrats privately feared running a gubernatorial race against state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli…. But he was no match for Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who parlayed nearly eight years as Christie’s second-in-command into an easy victory in the GOP primary Tuesday night…. The unofficial tallies with 98 percent of the vote in had Ciattarelli taking 31 percent of the vote and Guadagno with 47 percent.”
  10. ^ Official List Candidates for Governor For Primary Election 06/06/2017 Election Archived November 13, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of State, June 28, 2017. Accessed November 12, 2017.
  11. ^ Johnson, Brent (June 10, 2021). “Ciattarelli wins Republican nomination to challenge Murphy for N.J. governor”. NJ.com. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  12. ^ “After Conceding, Jack Ciattarelli Says He Will Run Again for NJ Governor in 2025”. WNBC. November 12, 2021.
  13. ^ “New Jersey Election Results”. The New York Times. December 1, 2021. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  14. ^ Sherman, Ted (November 4, 2021). “‘This race is far from over,’ Ciattarelli campaign says, as it seeks contributions to continue the fight”. NJ.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  15. ^ Steinberg, Alan (March 20, 2017). “Governor Jack Ciattarelli in 2021?”. NJ.com. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  16. ^ Vielkind, Jimmy (November 3, 2021). “Phil Murphy Wins Tight New Jersey Governor Race”. Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  17. ^ “Ciattarelli concedes in New Jersey governor’s race, vows to run again in 2025”. Politico. November 12, 2021.
  18. ^ Wildstein, David (April 9, 2024). “Jack Ciattarelli launches bid for governor, pledging to cut taxes and spending”. New Jersey Globe. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  19. ^ “Trump endorses Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey governor’s race”. NBC News. May 13, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  20. ^ Martello, Tom; Johnson, Brent (May 10, 2025). “Did Baraka arrest just win him the N.J. Democratic primary for governor?”. nj. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  21. ^ Meier, Alex (June 10, 2025). “NJ election results: Mikie Sherrill, Jack Ciattarelli win primary for governor”. FOX 5 NY. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  22. ^ “Sherrill, Ciattarelli locked in tight race for New Jersey governor as campaigns enter final weeks”. www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  23. ^ Shelter, Thomas (October 7, 2025). “NJ Governor Candidates – Who is Leading the Race in New Jersey?”. CONGRESS.NET. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  24. ^ a b Corasaniti, Nick (October 29, 2025). “In Third Run for Governor, Ciattarelli Mixes MAGA Into His Agenda”. New York Times. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  25. ^ Friedman, Matt (October 14, 2025). “Battle of the surrogates”. Politico. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  26. ^ Nieto-Munoz, Sophie (November 5, 2025). “Jack Ciattarelli after losing governor’s race: ‘Our job doesn’t end’“. New Jersey Monitor.
  27. ^ a b “Jack Ciattarelli’s Assembly campaign website”. Retrieved January 20, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  28. ^ “Abortion issues muddied in first debate”. NJ Spotlight News. September 30, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  29. ^ “Central Jersey GOP lawmaker: Trump a ‘charlatan’ embarrassing our country”. my Central Jersey. December 10, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  30. ^ “Eight Times Jack Ciattarelli Lied About Headlining a Trump “Stop the Steal” Rally”. Insider NJ. September 16, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  31. ^ “NJ governor’s race gets heated, with attacks on Trump, taxes”. AP NEWS. September 29, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  32. ^ Wildstein, David (March 8, 2024). “Ciattarelli endorses Trump”. New Jersey Globe. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  33. ^ a b Fox, Joey (May 12, 2025). “Trump endorses Ciattarelli for governor, cementing him as clear GOP frontrunner”. New Jersey Globe. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  34. ^ Symons, Michael (September 29, 2021). “In reversal, Ciattarelli backs licenses for undocumented in NJ”. New Jersey 101.5. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  35. ^ a b “Ciattarelli faces fire after promising to roll back LGBT curricula”. New Jersey Globe. July 14, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  36. ^ a b Racioppi, Dustin. “Jack Ciattarelli, GOP nominee for NJ governor, knocked for LGBTQ remarks. What he said”. North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  37. ^ Katz, Matt (July 13, 2021). “‘We’re Not Teaching Sodomy In 6th Grade’: GOP Nominee For N.J. Governor Wants To End LGBTQ Curriculum”. Gothamist. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  38. ^ “What do Phil Murphy and Jack Ciattarelli want to do if elected? Neither offer much detail”. The Hill. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  39. ^ Livio, Susan (October 21, 2025). “Campaign adviser’s comments on Jews, gay marriage spark new controversy in N.J. governor race”. NJ.com.
  40. ^ “About Me”. jack4gov.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  41. ^ Johnson, Brent (June 24, 2023). “Republican N.J. governor hopeful Ciattarelli splits with wife”. NJ.com. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  42. ^ Blackburn, Zach (September 19, 2025). “Ciattarelli releases tax returns”. New Jersey Globe. Mayfair Media. Retrieved September 21, 2025. The returns were filed with his ex-wife, Melinda; they separated in 2023 and divorced this year.
  43. ^ Johnson, Brent (March 1, 2017). “N.J. governor candidate Ciatarelli says he’s cancer-free in attack on his foes”. NJ.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.

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