TRENTON, N.J. — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea said he would not support the GOP nominee Jack Ciattarelli if he wins the party’s primary, calling him “anti-gun, pro-abortion, pro-illegal” and criticizing his past rejection of support from conservatives.
His opponent, and likely winner Jack Ciattarelli said he would support and endorse whoever the GOP nominee is for governor.
Spadea, a former FM talk radio host and outspoken critic of the state GOP establishment, made the comments during a public discussion on X Spaces, where he was asked directly if he would back Ciattarelli in a general election against a Democrat.
“There is no yes or no,” Spadea said. “Losing this primary to a RINO near-Democrat is as bad as losing the general to the Democrats, because you’re going to have a hard time finding a big difference between Jack Ciattarelli and the likely nominee, Mikie Sherrill.”
In his remarks, Spadea accused Ciattarelli of aligning with Democratic positions on social and immigration issues and criticized his 2021 campaign for allegedly distancing itself from Donald Trump. He also claimed Ciattarelli requested scripted questions before appearing on Spadea’s radio show, which he declined.
Spadea added that he withheld his vote and endorsement in the 2021 gubernatorial race due to Ciattarelli’s stances on COVID-19 policies, including vaccine and mask mandates.
“He spent all of October trashing Donald Trump and supporting Phil Murphy’s vaccine mandates,” Spadea said.
Primary stakes grow as GOP field divides
Spadea’s comments further highlight the ideological divide within New Jersey’s Republican Party ahead of the June 10 primary. His refusal to back the potential nominee echoes growing national tensions between populist conservatives and traditional Republicans.
Despite his criticism, Spadea noted he had previously supported more moderate candidates such as Rep. Tom Kean Jr. for strategic reasons. That strategic reason was Kean’s connection to key Spadea consultant George Gilmore. Spadea also supported openly gay, pro-choice candidate Curtis Bashaw for U.S. Senate last year, another Gilmore candidate.
“The only thing worse than a woke Democrat is a weak Republican who could set our movement back decades,” he said.
Ciattarelli has not publicly responded to Spadea’s comments. He has previously run as a centrist Republican and lost narrowly to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in the last election. He has not sought Trump’s endorsement in this cycle.
Spadea emphasized that his focus remains on the primary and that any endorsement or support for other candidates would depend on specific conditions being met.
The winner of the GOP primary is expected to face a Democratic challenger, likely led by Rep. Mikie Sherrill.
