TRENTON, N.J. — Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is returning a $500 campaign contribution from Bill Palatucci, a Republican National Committeeman closely aligned with former Gov. Chris Christie, distancing himself from the embattled party figure amid ongoing divisions over loyalty to former President Donald Trump.

Ciattarelli announced his decision on Saturday, citing his lack of direct involvement in soliciting the donation.

“While I greatly respect the efforts of all those who host Ciattarelli for Governor campaign events, I did not personally seek or solicit support from Bill Palatucci and his contribution of last Thursday is being returned,” Ciattarelli said in a statement.

The move comes as Palatucci faces internal party scrutiny for his refusal to support Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign after backing Christie during the GOP primary and reportedly entertaining discussions about a potential independent run by Christie under the “No Labels” banner. Palatucci’s actions could result in his removal from the RNC under a rule that allows the party to block members who refuse to back the presidential nominee.

This is not the first instance of political tension between Ciattarelli and Palatucci. In 2021, when Ciattarelli narrowly lost to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, Palatucci declined to push for national Republican resources to assist Ciattarelli’s campaign, reportedly deeming the race unwinnable. Christie conveyed a similar sentiment to the Republican Governors Association.

Palatucci, who also contributed $1,000 to State Sen. John Bramnick’s gubernatorial campaign earlier this year, has emerged as a lightning rod in the ongoing battle over Trump’s influence in the party. His ties to Christie, a vocal Trump critic, have placed him at odds with staunch Trump allies within the GOP.

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