Trenton, NJ –– Calls are growing statewide from party chairmen to legislative leaders, to rank and file Republicans calling for alleged Trump loyalist Bill Spadea to suspend his campaign after being rejected by the President for an endorsement in the New Jersey GOP primary.
Spadea, who is behind front-runner and Trump-endorsed candidate Jack Ciattarelli in every major, remains defiant.
The New Jersey Republican gubernatorial primary has taken a dramatic turn as former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Jack Ciattarelli has sparked growing calls for rival candidate Bill Spadea to withdraw his candidacy.
The endorsement, announced earlier this week, has intensified the battle for the GOP nomination ahead of the June 10 primary, with Spadea, a former radio host and self-proclaimed “MAGA” loyalist, refusing to back down despite mounting pressure.
Trump’s decision to back Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman who ran for governor in 2021, has been a significant blow to Spadea’s campaign, which has heavily leaned on his alignment with the former president’s “Make America Great Again” movement. Spadea, who has long prided himself on being a steadfast Trump ally, reportedly reacted with frustration, even throwing what some insiders described as a “tantrum” over the snub. In a recent statement, Spadea took a pointed jab at Trump’s track record, noting that “all of Trump’s New Jersey endorsements have gone on to lose elections,” a comment that has raised eyebrows among Republican operatives.
The calls for Spadea to step aside have come from various corners of the GOP establishment, who see Ciattarelli as the stronger candidate to unite the party and challenge the Democratic nominee in November.
A recent Emerson poll shows Ciattarelli leading Spadea by a commanding 44% to 18% in the GOP primary, a gap that has widened since Trump’s endorsement. Political analysts argue that Spadea’s continued candidacy risks splitting the conservative vote and weakening the party’s chances in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since 2009.
“Spadea’s campaign was built on being the ‘Trump guy,’ but now that Trump has chosen Ciattarelli, his rationale for staying in the race is crumbling,” said a senior New Jersey Republican strategist, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The party needs to consolidate behind Jack to have a fighting chance in November.”
Despite the pressure, Spadea remains defiant, vowing to continue his campaign.
In a recent interview, he expressed disappointment but insisted he would not bow out, stating that receiving the news of Trump’s endorsement of Ciattarelli was “like a punch to the gut” but that he was “still in this to win it.” Spadea’s supporters, particularly those aligned with the grassroots MAGA movement, have rallied behind him, arguing that Trump’s endorsement does not define their loyalty.
“Trump doesn’t own MAGA,” said one Spadea supporter on X, echoing a sentiment shared by others who feel the former president’s decision betrays a loyal ally.
“Bill has been out there fighting for the America First agenda every day. We’re not giving up.”
Another post on X claimed that “NJMAGA” was rejecting Trump’s endorsement, with some even “ratioing” the former president’s announcement on Truth Social to express their support for Spadea.
There is no official “NJMAGA” organization and the term has been used lately by disenfranchised Spadea supporters rebelling against the President’s decision to endorse their candidate’s opponent.
The backlash has highlighted a rift within New Jersey’s Republican base, with some MAGA voters questioning Trump’s choice of Ciattarelli, who was once a vocal critic of the former president.
Ciattarelli has since worked to mend ties, meeting with Trump in March and positioning himself as an “America First” candidate. Trump praised Ciattarelli as “a winner” and the candidate “best positioned to stand tall” against Democratic opponents.
Critics of Spadea argue that his campaign has been overly reliant on Trump’s coattails, ignoring broader issues that resonate with GOP primary voters. One political consultant remarked on X that Spadea’s focus on being the “most pro-Trump” candidate has backfired, turning the race into a “referendum on Trump” rather than a substantive policy debate.
As the primary approaches, the tension between the Spadea and Ciattarelli camps shows no signs of abating. Spadea’s campaign has doubled down on its grassroots efforts, with supporters calling Trump’s endorsement of Ciattarelli “ridiculous” and rallying around their candidate’s outsider appeal. Meanwhile, Ciattarelli has capitalized on the endorsement, pushing back against Spadea’s criticisms and framing himself as the unifying figure the party needs.
