Point Pleasant, NJ – Jack Ciattarelli walked onto the Fox News set in front of a roaring hometown crowd Thursday night, greeted by chants of his name and a wave of applause that transformed the “Hannity” town hall into a campaign rally.
Sean Hannity called it “a Trump rally,” but Ciattarelli was quick to claim it for himself, telling supporters this was a movement building across New Jersey.
The Republican gubernatorial candidate said the energy on the ground “has never been stronger,” predicting an upset victory in next week’s election and citing bipartisan endorsements as proof his campaign is resonating statewide.
Key Points
- Jack Ciattarelli says his campaign is seeing record Republican early voting turnout in New Jersey.
- He vowed to end the state’s sanctuary policies and repeal cashless bail on his first day in office.
- Ciattarelli promised to cut income and corporate taxes, reduce energy costs, and eliminate wasteful spending.
Ciattarelli says GOP surge mirrors 2021’s surprise finish
Ciattarelli told Hannity that Republican turnout in early voting has surpassed expectations, saying his campaign is “matching Democrats voter for voter.” He credited local enthusiasm and voter dissatisfaction with New Jersey’s tax burden for fueling the momentum. “If we go into Election Day within a certain number of points, we will win,” he said.
Hannity noted that national Democrats were “pouring money in” to defend the seat, pointing to reports that the Democratic National Committee and major donors were alarmed by tightening polls. Ciattarelli said Democratic mayors crossing party lines to endorse him showed a “real shift” underway.
Tax policy and affordability take center stage
Pressed by Hannity on New Jersey’s high cost of living, Ciattarelli listed what he called “the worst tax rankings in America,” including a 10.75% top income tax rate and an 11.5% corporate tax — both among the highest nationally. “I refuse to be the governor of a state ranked 49th in competitiveness,” he said to applause.
He promised to lower the state’s inheritance tax and provide relief to both businesses and residents, arguing that current spending levels were “unsustainable.” Ciattarelli criticized the Murphy administration for doubling state spending and adding “more than $2 billion in pet projects” while seniors and young families struggled with property taxes.
Sharp contrast with Mikie Sherrill on transparency and energy policy
When asked about opponent Mikie Sherrill, Ciattarelli questioned her transparency, calling for the release of her disciplinary records from the U.S. Naval Academy after conflicting public explanations about an incident there. “All she has to do is approve the release,” he said. “If what she’s saying is true, the records will confirm it.”
Ciattarelli also attacked Sherrill’s support for the state’s clean energy policies, labeling them as “failures that shut down power plants and drove up costs.” He argued for a return to domestic energy generation, opposing the regional greenhouse gas initiative and calling for expanded natural gas and nuclear production.
Vows to restore “law and order” on day one
Ciattarelli pledged immediate executive action to reverse the state’s sanctuary policies and cashless bail system, drawing cheers from the crowd. “No town in this state will be a sanctuary city, and New Jersey will not be a sanctuary state,” he said. “That policy encourages illegal immigration and handcuffs our local police.”
He outlined plans to appoint a new attorney general, prosecutors, and a superintendent of state police aligned with his “law and order” vision. “We’re getting back to being a state that ensures public safety,” he told supporters.
The appearance ended with Ciattarelli promising to “hit the reset button” on state government, framing his campaign as an opportunity for voters to demand accountability and relief from years of high costs. “I can’t think of a better time to be governor,” he said as the crowd rose in applause.