TRENTON, N.J. — Former AM/FM radio host and three-time losing political candidate Bill Spadea is signaling interest in another bid for New Jersey governor, just weeks after losing the Republican primary to Jack Ciattarelli by a 3-to-1 margin.
Spadea, who previously ran unsuccessfully for office twice before this year’s defeat, updated his X profile to read: “Former Republican candidate for NJ Gov. Former…future?” — a message widely interpreted as a teaser for a potential 2029 campaign.
Spadea’s campaign for governor began to unravel as Ciattarelli gained momentum in the polls, compounded by a scandal uncovered by Politico outlining a possible election contribution scam.
Politco reported Spadea had paid an LLC in his name, over $250,000 through a non-profit political entity he created, the Common Sense Club. That club was accused of misleading donors nationwide. Audits of the group’s finances showed most of the money being funneled to Spadea and his political allies, and not to grassroots conservative candidates as promised.
At this time, no formal federal or state investigation into the scandal has been announced, as one of the primary beneficiaries of the scandal was George Gilmore, a man who has been on the FBI’s radar for decades. Gilmore was convicted on multiple tax charges and sentenced to one year in prison, but escaped incarceration through a last-minute pardon by President Donald J. Trump. The Ocean County GOP Chairman returned to power and has been involved in multiple eye-popping financial deals involving local municipal and county government projects.
Many political insiders in Ocean County believe federal authorities are still watching Gilmore. Others believe Gilmore has become a federal confidential informant and is working with the federal government on a larger statewide political corruption operation to pay off his federal debt, which includes millions of dollars in stolen payroll tax funds and multiple IRS liens on his Toms River waterfront mansion.
Gilmore had escaped multiple federal “Operation Bid Rig” investigations and convictions over the years, but now he is operating in plain sight, sparking considerable speculation among political insiders.
Despite the lopsided result in the primary, Spadea has not endorsed Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee, and has remained publicly silent about party unity since the election.
Spadea’s decision to keep the door open for a future run and his refusal to endorse Ciattarelli suggest lingering divisions within the state GOP among diehard Spadea followers and the rest of New Jersey who wants to end the Democrat party’s decades long rule over the sate.
His campaign drew support from more hardline conservative voters, while Ciattarelli ran a more traditional platform with statewide appeal.
Ciattarelli, who previously secured the Republican nomination in 2021, will face progressive Mikie Sherrill in November.