Ed the trucker slams brakes on endorsing bill spadea for governor

Key Points

New Jersey state senator Ed Durr announced he is exiting the governor’s race.
Durr clarified he is not endorsing Bill Spadea or any other candidate at this time.
Spadea publicly thanked Durr and suggested he had joined his campaign effort.

TRENTON, N.J. — Former New Jersey state Sen. Ed Durr has ended his campaign for governor of New Jersey but clarified he is not endorsing Republican rival Bill Spadea or any other candidate, despite public claims suggesting otherwise.

Durr’s withdrawal comes amid growing divisions in the GOP primary field, where former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli and radio host Bill Spadea are considered top contenders. In a statement explaining his departure, Durr cited debate stage restrictions as a major factor.

“As far as getting out of the race it was actually something that we’ve been talking about for the last two days,” Durr said, explaining that without access to the debate stage, he could not effectively reach voters.

Shortly after the announcement, Spadea posted on social media thanking Durr for “join[ing] us and unit[ing] MAGA Republicans,” framing the senator’s exit as an endorsement. However, Durr quickly refuted that implication.

“Durr said he is not endorsing Bill Spadea or any other candidate.”

“I didn’t endorse Bill. I believe Bill is closely aligned with me. I think he’s more conservative. Jack (Ciattarelli) is not a pro-life candidate, nor is Jon (Bramnick). I’m pro-life, and I’ve never changed from that,” Durr said, adding that he hasn’t decided if he will make an endorsement.

Spadea’s campaign has not issued a clarification regarding Durr’s non-endorsement, though his post remains visible on X, formerly Twitter.

A pro-Trump conservative who rose to prominence after unseating the longtime state Senate president in 2021, Durr’s decision leaves the Republican primary field narrower but potentially more contentious.

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