After a competitive GOP Gubernatorial Primary in New Jersey, 2021 Nominee Jack Ciattarelli has a second chance (in three tries) to become the Garden State’s next governor in November 2025.
Four years ago, the sixty-three-year-old Ciattarelli made some tactical mistakes, but a major strategic error was in picking Diane Allen as his Lt. Governor running mate, a former state legislator who was already checked out of New Jersey. If anyone heard her speak, she relayed an uninspiring story about having already bought a house in Texas so that she could be closer to her family; but then she got the call from Jack to be his running mate. For the fate of New Jersey, let’s hope Ciattarelli doesn’t make a similar choice again.
So, who should his running mate be? We break it down below.
Bill Spadea, former GOP Primary Candidate for NJ Governor.
We know. But hear us out. If Ciattarelli wants his decade-plus desire to be New Jersey Governor to become a reality, the most politically logical choice for a running mate is Bill Spadea.
Ciattarelli likes to invoke Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan so much in his speeches, he should put it into practice by choosing a rival that holds a significant amount of sway on the Republican electorate.
Even more, regardless of the Trump endorsement in the Primary, Spadea is the leader of the MAGA movement in New Jersey and his followers, supporters, and (100K+) voters are just as committed to him as they are to President Trump. Even more, the spinoff MAHA movement has major ties to the Garden State, and Spadea could do a lot to help Ciattarelli in that arena. Given President Trump lost to Kamala Harris by just six points in the 2024 Election, Ciattarelli needs every Republican vote he can to have shot at becoming Governor and Spadea would enhance that possibility closer than any other possible running mate.
We all know that these men likely despise each other, but if their real and authentic reason for running for governor was to fix New Jersey, then personal feelings should be set aside for the best chance at political victory. An Italian American heritage ticket would be the most New Jersey thing ever, but politicos would scoff at the notion. But either way, New Jerseyans can’t hold on much longer in the Garden State and are actively looking to leave after November if Democrat Mikie Sherrill becomes the Governor.
Paul Kanitra, State Assemblyman and former Mayor.
If Ciattarelli chooses not to run with Bill Spadea as his Lt. Governor Candidate, or vice versa, then the next best candidate to help secure victory would be Assemblyman Paul Kanitra.
Fresh off a selection from GOPAC as a nationwide rising Republican star likely destined for Congress or the Governor’s mansion in his own right, Ocean County’s Kanitra could be the JD Vance of the Garden State. Much like the man Ciattarelli worked so hard to win an endorsement from in the Primary, President Donald Trump selected forty-year-old U.S. Senator JD Vance from Ohio as his Vice-Presidential running mate in 2024. Most politicos thought Trump would choose U.S. Senator Marco Rubio from Florida (now Secretary of State) because he needed a compliment to his own candidacy, but after the failed assassination attempt on his life, Trump realized he needed an heir.
Enter Kanitra, a forty-five-year-old staunch conservative with charismatic speaking skills, numerous national appearances on Fox News and Newsmax, and a volunteer in international conflicts (read: Ukraine and Israel). Kanitra has won Media Research Center’s Free Speech Award alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott and is constantly discussed in political circles.
Even more, Kanitra has a proven track record of actually getting things done, something clearly apparent when he was Mayor of Point Pleasant Beach and recently as Assemblyman from the tenth district (LD10) which covers both Ocean and Monmouth Counties. He’s even been discussed as a possible Ocean County GOP Chairman candidate for 2026.
Kanitra stayed out the Gubernatorial Primary, stating friendships with both Ciattarelli and Spadea, and even more, navigating the political waters where Monmouth supported Ciattarelli and Ocean supported Spadea. Kanitra’s objectivity makes him one of the few that might be able to bring both sides together for a win in November.
If Ciattarelli wants to show he is serious about generational change in New Jersey, Assemblyman Kanitra would represent that in spades and offer a much-needed connection to younger voters who have been decimated in the last twenty-five years the New Jersey Democrats have controlled the state legislature.
Brian Bergen, State Assemblyman and former Army Attack Helicopter Pilot.
If Ciattarelli wants to go with a proven ally as his running mate, then there is no better voice than State Assemblyman Brian Bergen.
The forty-six-year-old combat veteran and West Point Graduate was an ardent supporter and unabashed attack dog of Ciattarelli in the primary, and could nullify the appeal of the democratic nominee for independents and fiscally-open democrats in the General Election.
An attack pilot of Apache helicopters that earned him a Bronze Star and the Combat Action Badge in Operation Iraqi Freedom (Second Gulf War), Bergen could serve a perfect role as Ciattarelli’s running mate. The former Denville Township Councilman has no fear when speaking about conservative issues and would likely verbally beat and bruise Democrat Gubernatorial Nominee Mikie Sherrill into unelectable territory. Bergen is a fighter, and can inspire voters to come to the polls for Ciattarelli who are otherwise disenchanted by a Spadea loss.
If Ciatterelli wants to win back some Republican voters he lost in the primary, as well as those he disappointed by rolling over too soon after the 2021 Election when he was the Governor-Elect for 6 hours, Bergen might be the bridge to victory in November.
Serena DiMaso, Former Assemblywoman, Freeholder, and Mayor.
Another way for Ciattarelli to repair the damage from a brutal primary with Spadea is to take one his biggest allies, and that is no doubt former Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso.
Primarily responsible for indirectly providing the necessary data and proof required for U.S. Senate Candidate Andy Kim (now Senator) to destroy the unconstitutional “line” on ballots through the New Jersey Courts, DiMaso was a rising star in the New Jersey Republican Party.
Unfortunately for New Jersey voters, DiMaso was unceremoniously stripped of the county line by Monmouth County GOP Chairman Shaun Golden in the 2021 because of petty insider politics, and lost to now-Assemblywoman Vicki Flynn in the Republican Primary.
The days of party bosses are now over in the Garden State, and the threat of stripping “the line” from a candidate is no longer a weapon by the County Chairs, so DiMaso could represent a bridge to movement that has such ferocious loyalty to Bill Spadea.
DiMaso has done most of the political stepping stones, starting on Holmdel Township Committee, then serving as Mayor, then Monmouth County Freeholder, and eventually State Assemblywoman, so she has seen every level of public office and can be an asset in moving the levers of government to get things done.
Kristin Corrado, State Senator and former Passaic County Clerk.
If Ciattarelli wants a safe running mate for Lt. Governor, then selecting State Senator Kristin Corrado from the 40th District (Passaic County) is a path to go. The former Passaic County Clerk doesn’t cause political waves and could add balance as an attorney to a ticket that has an MBA/CPA at the top.
A small business owner in her own right, the fifty-nine-year-old Corrado gives a one-two punch with Ciattarelli’s own small business career as a message to New Jersey to get our out-of-control spending, taxes, and debt under control.
Corrado may not drum up as much excitement in the Republican Party as other possible candidate would, but she won’t divide it further either. Choosing her could be a safe choice if Ciattarelli wants all the incoming fire on himself against the New Jersey Democrat machine. He’s proven he can take it, and can do so again.
Holly Schepisi, State Senator and former Assemblywoman.
If Ciattarelli wants to lock up votes in Bergen County, then choosing State Senator Holly Schepisi as a running mate will make the November election a close one.
The fifty-three-year-old State Senate Republican Conference Leader has a wide background of public service across a decade and a half, making her name id significant. Schepeisi is a former State Assemblywoman, public defender, and alternate prosecutor as well as a practicing attorney and partner at O’Toole Scrivo.
Forget choosing her for the identity politics argument democrats would make, this strong Republican woman would be a great compliment and balance to Ciattarelli on the campaign trail in terms of temperament and communication style. Given she serves in a suburb of New York City in the heart of North Jersey, where the majority of the votes will be come Election Day, it would bode well for the Ciattarelli campaign to consider her. Rumor has it, Schepisi was on Ciattarelli’s short list in 2021, so she has likely been vetted already.
Michael Testa, State Senator
If Ciattarelli wants to reinforce and double down on his South Jersey stronghold of votes, Ciattarelli could choose State Senator Mike Testa from the 1st Legislative District, which covers Cape May County and parts of Cumberland and Atlantic County.
The forty-nine-year-old Cumberland County GOP Chairman is a rising star in the Republican Party, a proven Conservative voice on issues in Trenton, and an effective communicator in sporadic national news media appearances, but is not well known in North Jersey. He successfully “Flipped the First” district in 2019, and can harness that enthusiasm again to “Fix New Jersey” alongside Ciattarelli.
Testa came out early to endorse Ciattarelli, which is telling given there are rumors he has ambitions for higher office such as Congress or Governor. Ciattarelli could select Testa for another iteration of an easy to remember ticket, “Jack & Mike,” but the NJGOP needs a solid message on issues (cost of living, taxes, NJDOGE) to garner momentum, not cheap marketing gimmicks like in 2021 for “Jack & Diane.” If Testa comes up short as the Lt. Governor candidate selection, he could always serve in a Ciattarelli Administration as Attorney General.
The views and opinions expressed in this guest post are those of the author and may or may not reflect positions adopted by Liberty & Prosperity 1776, Inc. as an organization.
I like your article, and it was great of you to take the time to write something to keep moving forward for the Election however I would like to know who you are. I put my name down every time I write something and if you want to get ahold of me privately that’s fine too. But if you’re going to write an article with such tenacity the people would like to know who you are. I know I do!
I do disagree with this statement however, “Spadea is the leader of the MAGA movement in New Jersey and his followers, supporters, and (100K+) voters are just as committed to him as they are to President Trump.”
Everyone I know is MAGA and have been since the beginning approximately 10 years now and we all voted for Jack and since his numbers were so much higher than Bills how are you actually calculating your assumption because that is all it is! Unless you took a poll or followed each voter.
It is obvious by the way your article is written you are a Bill fan just like I am a Jack fan which is great however, your assessment is not an assessment I would make. When President Donald J. Trump endorsed Jack that changed many people’s minds as well that were on the fence because they are more MAGA than they are Jack or Bill. They backed the Candidate our President said to back making Jack even more successful so again the numbers are much higher than your article indicates. Anyway, we could go back and forth but since I do not know who you are, I will stop here! But thank you for taken the time to write this article.