Longtime Establishment Insider Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli Attempts to Rebrand Himself Amid Bruising GOP Primary

TRENTON — Facing an onslaught of attacks from his GOP primary opponents, career politician and Republican gubernatorial candidate Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is dishonestly attempting to recast himself as an “outsider” despite his lengthy track record as a card-carrying member of the New Jersey GOP establishment.

Assemblyman Ciattarelli’s campaign biography conveniently omits the fact that he’s a longtime political insider. In reality, his political career began in 1990 and included stints as a Raritan Borough Councilman, as a Somerset County Freeholder, and as Christie Christie’s top cheerleader in the New Jersey Legislature. This is Ciattarelli’s 31st year in politics — some experts suggest the appropriate gift is a timepiece to mark the long duration of his career running for office after office.

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Ciattarelli has kept himself busy by desperately courting Trump’s far-right base — headlining a “Stop the Steal Rally,” attending maskless indoor campaign events, and aligning himself with an Oath Keeper candidate.

What’s worse for Jack? His loyalty to Trump and support for the former president’s policies, which Ciattarelli believes “worked for the country,” hasn’t reassured GOP voters. According to one report, fellow establishment insider and Trump fanatic Senator Joe Pennacchio has made it clear “he doesn’t love” Assemblyman Ciattarelli.

“In the midst of a primary fight for Trump loyalty, Assemblyman Ciattarelli has repeatedly shown that he’s willing to do or say anything to win,” said Murphy for Governor Spokesman Jerrel Harvey. “While the Assemblyman is hoping to rebrand himself as an outsider, he’s nothing more than an establishment politician who enabled the disastrous Christie agenda and has spent his entire career putting special interests ahead of New Jersey values — with a long career like that, no wonder he wants to hide it.”