BEDMINSTER, NJ – President Donald Trump has never been one to shy away from a fight—or an endorsement. From Ohio to Georgia, his nod has become a golden ticket for Republican hopefuls.

Yet, as New Jersey’s GOP gubernatorial primary heats up, the former president’s silence is deafening. Don’t expect that to change anytime soon. Here’s why Trump is unlikely to put his finger on the pulse of the Garden State’s crowded Republican field.

First, history offers a clue.

Trump has never endorsed a candidate in a New Jersey GOP primary. The state, a deep-blue fortress that hasn’t elected a Republican governor since Chris Christie’s 2009 win, might simply not register on his radar.

Even in 2021, when Jack Ciattarelli came within three points of toppling Gov. Phil Murphy, Trump stayed mum in the general election. If he didn’t bite then, why now?

The current crop of candidates doesn’t help. Ciattarelli, radio host Bill Spadea, and state Sen. Jon Bramnick have all reportedly taken swipes at Trump in the past. Anyone who’s followed the 47th president knows he doesn’t forgive easily—just ask Mitt Romney or Mitch McConnell. Without a public mea culpa from these contenders, Trump’s not likely to reward them with his imprimatur. Loyalty is his currency, and so far, no one’s paid up.

Then there’s Ed Durr, the truck driver-turned-state senator who ousted a Democratic heavyweight in 2021. Durr’s a MAGA loyalist through and through, but he’s a long shot in this race.

Trump loves winners—his endorsements tend to back frontrunners like JD Vance, not underdogs whose odds feel more like a Hail Mary.

Another Trump supporter, Mario Kranjac, entered late, but his timing might leave him too far behind to catch the ex-president’s eye.

Beyond the candidates, Trump’s got bigger fish to fry. His business empire—including golf courses in Bedminster and Colts Neck—faces scrutiny from New Jersey’s Democratic machine, which is already trying to yank his liquor licenses over January 6th fallout.

Why poke the bear when he’s already in their crosshairs? And with legal battles and national ambitions looming, a Jersey primary squabble hardly seems worth his time.

Perhaps most telling is the lack of reciprocity.

None of these candidates have gone to bat for Trump in a way that screams “endorse me.” No impassioned defenses during his impeachments, no barnstorming for him in 2020.

In Trump’s transactional world, you don’t get something for nothing—especially not in a state he lost by 16 points last time around.

Could Trump surprise us? Sure—if a frontrunner grovels hard enough or the race tightens in the general, he might swoop in.

But for now, the NJ GOP primary looks like a sideshow he’s content to skip.

The candidates aren’t bending the knee, the state’s not turning red anytime soon, and Trump’s got better things to do than play kingmaker in a blue-state brawl. Don’t hold your breath for that coveted Truth Social post.

In New Jersey, Trump’s staying on the sidelines, at least through the primary—and that’s just fine with him.

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Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

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Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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