ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who is the Trumpiest of them all?
This year’s GOP primary race for governor in New Jersey appears to have devolved into a race for who supports President Trump the most. Now, a newcomer to the race believe it’s him and not Trump blasphemers Bill Spadea or Jack Ciattarelli.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has endorsed former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, calling him the only candidate capable of flipping the state red.
This is the first federal-level endorsement of a New Jersey gubernatorial candidate this cycle. President Trump has not yet made any endorsements in the race, but big news about Trump’s opinion of one of the candidates is incoming.
“Mario personifies the Trumpy kind of America First leadership that New Jersey desperately needs,” Gingrich said. “President Trump nearly turned New Jersey red in 2024, and Mario is the only candidate who can finish the job.”
Gingrich praised Kranjac’s record as mayor, saying he “took on the big fights no one else would” and “refused to back down.” He argued that a Kranjac victory would have national implications. “When Mario turns New Jersey red, he will create a domino effect that will end any hopes the Democrats have of winning the 2026 midterms, impeaching the President, or even taking back the White House in 2028,” he said.
The endorsement comes as New Jersey Republicans remain divided, with a recent Emerson College poll showing 47% of voters undecided despite multiple candidates making repeat bids for the nomination. Gingrich positioned Kranjac as a proven fighter, saying, “Mario could not have defeated a 42-year, one-party, one-family Democrat dynasty if he wasn’t built for battle just like President Trump.”
With the Republican primary heating up, Gingrich’s backing could give Kranjac a boost as he positions himself as the most loyal Trump-aligned candidate in the race.