Republican Jack Ciattarelli is continuing to rack up endorsements from Democrats in his bid to become New Jersey governor – the latest coming Saturday from a center-left political group.
Ciattarelli’s endorsement from Brooklyn-based New Era Democrats marks at least eight he’s received from Dems in his bid to defeat Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) in the Garden State gubernatorial race.
“We are proud to endorse Jack Ciattarelli for Governor of New Jersey,” said the group’s President Celia Iervasi
“As life continues tobecome unaffordable for the working class and New Jersey continues to be one of the highest taxed states in the country, Jack is the right person that is needed to make life more affordable for the residents of the Garden State.”
“We look forward to joining a coalition of organizations that are supporting Jack in the upcoming election and know that he is the right person to lead New Jersey in the right direction,” she said.
Other Dems who’ve endorsed Ciattarelli include North Bergen Mayor and longtime Hudson County power broker Nick Sacco, North Bergen Commissioner Allen Pascual, Dover Mayor Jim Dodd, Garfield Mayor Everett Garnto Jr., Branchville Councilman Jeff Lewis, Branchville Mayor Anthony Frato and ex-Hudson County Democratic Chairman Anthony Vainieri, according to a list compiled by Newsweek.
Garnto became a Republican after endorsing Ciattarelli.
The New Era Democrats group has a history of endorsing Republicans when it feels warranted, including Lee Zeldin’s failed 2022 New York gubernatorial bid and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn), but it’s also backed far lefties like ex-NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Sherrill had 50% to 45% lead over Jack Ciattarelli in a Rutgers-Eagleton poll of likely voters released Thursday, but it’s a far cry from the 20-point lead she held in June.
