New Jersey Republican gubernatorial hopeful Jack Ciattarelli secured several significant endorsements on Sunday within the predominantly Democratic Hudson County.
Among the notable supporters are North Bergen Commissioner Allen Pascual and West New York Commissioner Marcos Arroyo, both of whom expressed their support for Ciattarelli.
“When Democrats in Hudson County stand with us, it signals that change is on the horizon,” Ciattarelli stated, celebrating the endorsements. “This campaign transcends party lines—it’s about improving New Jersey, and I am the only candidate with a concrete plan to achieve that.”
Additionally, former Hudson County Democratic Chairman Anthony Vainieri, Jr. is expected to endorse Ciattarelli soon, as reported by the New Jersey Globe.
Hudson County, the fourth most populated area in New Jersey featuring cities like Newark, Yonkers, and Jersey City, is usually regarded as one of the strongest Democratic bastions in the state.
In the previous November elections, voter participation dropped to 61%, down from 52% four years earlier, illustrating a significant decline. Although President Trump lost 62.3% to 34.4%, the lower turnout made the margins closer in the state race.
“Jack knows what hard-working New Jersey families and small businesses require; he supports law enforcement and embodies a leadership style grounded in integrity, common sense, and dedication to our communities,” Pascual remarked regarding his endorsement.
“It’s time for change. It’s time to make New Jersey affordable for everyone residing here. I am proud to stand with him as we strive for a more robust and promising future for our state.”
Pascual has held his commission seat since 2002, while Arroyo was newly elected as West New York Commissioner in 2023.
These endorsements emerge amid a Democratic rift in Hudson County that escalated earlier this year.
Union City Mayor Brian Stack had found himself embroiled in a contentious dispute with North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco concerning competing candidate slates for the state Assembly, with Stack ultimately prevailing.
Furthermore, a faction of Democratic leaders in the county diverged over endorsing local candidate Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop for governor or Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ).
Current polls indicate a close contest between Ciattarelli and Sherrill, with just under a month left until Election Day.
Sherrill currently leads Ciattarelli by a slim margin of 3.3 percentage points, based on the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate. This trend has alarmed national Democratic leadership.
