TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, a rising figure in New Jersey Republican politics and a leading contender to succeed George Gilmore as Ocean County GOP Chairman in 2026, has been named to GOPAC’s 2025 Class of Emerging Leaders.
Kanitra is one of 30 Republican legislators nationwide selected for the program, and the only lawmaker from New Jersey to receive the honor this year. GOPAC, a national organization that trains and supports GOP officials for higher office, made the announcement this week.
“It is an incredible honor to be included in this class of fellow hard-driving conservatives with an eye toward a better and more prosperous future,” Kanitra said in a statement, adding that he looks forward to helping build support for Republican policies focused on cost reduction and public safety.
The recognition comes as Kanitra emerges as the frontrunner to lead the Ocean County Republican Organization after the expected departure of Gilmor in 2026, who currently chairs the county GOP.
Gilmore resigned from the GOPAC board in 2019 after being convicted on federal tax charges and sentenced to one year and one day in prison. He was later pardoned by President Donald Trump during his final hours in office.
Kanitra’s political rise and background
Kanitra, the former mayor of Point Pleasant Beach, was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 2023. He has positioned himself as a staunch conservative voice and a potential key figure in the future direction of the state’s Republican leadership.
“Whether it is leading in their state legislative chamber or running for higher office in the future, we welcome being part of their development and success,” GOPAC Chairman David Avella said in a release announcing the new class.
Kanitra’s selection signals growing national attention on his role in shaping New Jersey’s Republican landscape ahead of the 2026 county leadership transition.
