By Eric Mack | Tuesday, 04 November 2025 09:09 AM EST
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Joe Gruters hailed Tuesday’s Election Day as a “turning point” for New Jersey, a state historically dominated by Democrats, during his campaign efforts to secure the GOP gubernatorial nomination for Jack Ciattarelli. In a statement shared with Newsmax, Gruters criticized Mikie Sherrill, a Democratic candidate, for opposing tax cuts and advocating for lower costs for families while allegedly enriching herself through stock trading in Congress. He urged voters to reject her record of “higher taxes and broken promises,” emphasizing that Ciattarelli would prioritize “common sense” leadership, support for working families, and reduced taxation for all New Jerseyan residents.
Gruters encouraged every Republican in the state to participate in the election, stressing the importance of voting to elect Ciattarelli as governor. The RNC has prioritized the closely contested race, with Gruters traveling alongside Ciattarelli this weekend in Hazlet, Leonardo, and Toms River to mobilize voters.
Notably, former President Donald Trump, who previously drew large crowds during a 2024 campaign rally on the Jersey Shore, has contributed to shifting momentum for the GOP in New Jersey. While Trump did not win the state, his presence and the broader party’s efforts have bolstered support for Ciattarelli.
Ciattarelli, who nearly challenged outgoing Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021, claimed to have overcome three obstacles this time: the absence of pandemic-era campaign restrictions, no incumbent advantage, and a growing belief among voters that New Jersey no longer must be governed by Democrats.
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
