TRENTON, N.J. – Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli is outlining an aggressive first-day agenda as he seeks to reclaim the New Jersey governor’s office for his party in the final days before the November 4 election.
The former assemblyman and businessman says he will waste no time rolling back what he calls “failed Murphy-era mandates” if elected.
Facing Democratic nominee U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill in a tightening race, Ciattarelli has leaned into his message of affordability, accountability, and “common-sense conservatism.”
Key Points
- Ciattarelli pledges to repeal New Jersey’s “sanctuary state” policy and reimpose cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
- He plans to withdraw New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, calling it a “hidden tax.”
- His “day one” agenda includes restoring plastic bags, cutting taxes, and requiring voter ID at the polls.
Ending sanctuary protections and reshaping law enforcement policy
Ciattarelli has vowed to immediately repeal the state’s 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive, which restricts local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials on civil matters. The directive, enacted under Gov. Phil Murphy, is a centerpiece of New Jersey’s “sanctuary state” framework. Ciattarelli says it undermines safety by shielding undocumented individuals who commit crimes. He has pledged to bar municipalities from adopting their own sanctuary policies and to withhold state aid from those that refuse compliance.
Immigration advocates and Democrats have condemned the plan as divisive and counterproductive. Sherrill, a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor, defended the directive as a safeguard for victims and witnesses of crime who might otherwise fear reporting offenses.
Rolling back environmental regulations
Another headline promise from Ciattarelli’s “day one” plan is repealing New Jersey’s single-use plastic bag ban. The 2022 law prohibits plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam containers, a move environmentalists credit with cutting litter along beaches and waterways. Ciattarelli argues the ban has led to “inconvenience and higher costs” for consumers, citing the expense and waste associated with reusable bags.
He has also pledged to pull New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), calling it a “hidden carbon tax” that inflates electricity prices. The multi-state program limits carbon emissions from power plants and funds renewable energy projects. Ciattarelli says withdrawing would lower utility bills by hundreds of dollars per household annually, though clean energy advocates warn it could reverse climate gains and eliminate funding for green jobs.
Government efficiency, tax relief, and voter reforms
Ciattarelli’s broader “day one” agenda includes creating a new Department of Government Efficiency under the lieutenant governor to audit agencies and cut wasteful spending. He says he would end remote work for state employees and require a full return to offices.
He also plans to replace Attorney General Matt Platkin with a nominee who “respects constitutional rights,” strengthen Second Amendment protections, and appoint judges who interpret laws strictly.
Election changes form another pillar of Ciattarelli’s blueprint. He wants to require photo identification for in-person voting, overhaul mail-in ballot rules, and establish a voter fraud task force modeled on Florida’s system.
Economic priorities and education reform
On the economy, Ciattarelli promises to tackle property taxes, reduce corporate and income tax rates over time, and reform the state’s school funding formula to let education dollars “follow the student.” His campaign describes this as a step toward expanding school choice and easing the burden on middle-class families.
Ciattarelli’s platform blends fiscal conservatism with culture-driven themes, including opposition to late-term abortion and greater parental rights in classrooms. He has worked to court Trump-aligned voters while maintaining distance from the former president’s rhetoric in a state where Democrats have dominated statewide races for more than a decade.
Tight race heading into Election Day
With New Jersey’s last Republican governor leaving office in 2018, Ciattarelli hopes to break a 16-year drought for his party. Sherrill has countered his proposals by highlighting her record on veterans’ issues and national security while framing Ciattarelli’s platform as “a step backward.”
Both campaigns are zeroing in on swing counties like Bergen and Monmouth, where turnout could decide the race. As voters prepare to cast ballots on Tuesday, Ciattarelli’s “day one” blueprint offers a sharp contrast to the progressive policies that have defined the Murphy years — and a test of whether New Jersey’s electorate is ready to shift course.
