The Post endorses Jack Ciattarelli for New Jersey governor

As New Jersey approaches the November elections, voters are presented with a crucial opportunity to escape the persistent struggles typical of a blue state. This moment arrives with a chance to support Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a candidate with potential to bring change.

We fully endorse Ciattarelli, a seasoned former assemblyman who narrowly missed unseating the incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Murphy in 2021 by just three points. Now, he faces the long-standing establishment figure, Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill.

Garden State residents seeking to continue experiencing the burdens of Murphy’s administration—staggering utility costs, exorbitant taxes, woke educational policies, deteriorating infrastructure, rising crime rates, and a crushing state debt—might consider supporting Rep. Sherrill as an option.

For those wishing to turn the tide, Ciattarelli is the candidate who truly stands out.

Sherrill puts “affordability” at the forefront of her platform, yet her proposals merely suggest providing more taxpayer-funded handouts, targeting elusive “bad actors,” endorsing costly “clean energy” initiatives, and, incredibly, assigning blame to Donald Trump for soaring prices—even though inflation manifested itself during the Biden administration, largely as a result of reckless federal spending pushed through by her own party.

“There’s no cost higher than the price that all of us will have to pay if we don’t stand up” against Trump, she argues. Meanwhile, numerous other states manage to maintain reasonable utility bills and taxes without fear of the former president.

Sherrill’s strategy to address inflated grocery prices consists of pursuing “large corporations [that] jack up food prices and take advantage of consumers during a crisis.” It seems she is borrowing from radical socialist ideas advocating for the dissolution of fundamental market principles.

Her vision for New Jersey’s energy landscape includes creating “cheaper and cleaner energy generation” to achieve emissions and clean-air objectives. But it’s precisely the Democrats’ zero-emission drive that has propelled costs skyward: a report from Affordable Energy for New Jersey estimates a staggering $1.4 trillion expense for Murphy’s overly ambitious Energy Master Plan.

Instead of scaling back from this trajectory, Sherrill aims to expand upon it, illustrating a relentless adherence to a plan that many consider flawed.

She remains committed to Murphy’s initiatives that have enforced a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion agenda in schools, permitted continued increases in property and income taxes, and have inadequately addressed public safety issues. Surprisingly, her only suggestion for alleviating New Jersey’s crippling taxes (the second-highest in the nation) is to “close tax loopholes,” effectively proposing further tax increases.

Additionally, Sherrill stands against allowing parents the choice to opt-out of LGBTQ educational programs.

Her credibility is also in question, as she claims ignorance regarding her stock holdings’ substantial increase of $7 million since her congressional tenure—a scenario likely intended to shield her from scrutiny.

On the other hand, Jack Ciattarelli, a CPA and former business owner, presents a starkly differing approach by pledging to dismantle the Murphy agenda through practical solutions addressing New Jersey’s most pressing issues:

• Truly reducing income taxes for both individuals and businesses to allow for a drop in prices.
• Drastically cutting state expenditure and restricting budget growth in line with inflation rates.
• Abolishing sanctuary state policies and disallowing sanctuary cities.
• Implementing a revised Energy Master Plan aimed at lowering costs while allowing for more reliable, affordable energy sources, and reversing impractical mandates.
• Addressing flaws in bail reform and promoting responsible judiciary practices to keep repeat offenders incarcerated.
• Expanding charter schools and enhancing school choice for families.

Although New Jersey has historically leaned Democratic, there is a limit to the discomfort voters will accept. Last November, Trump secured a notable 46% of the votes in the state, marking the smallest margin of victory for a Democratic presidential candidate in 32 years.

The most recent Emerson College poll reveals an even race, with both Sherrill and Ciattarelli garnering 43% support each.

Recognizing the competitive nature of the race, the Democratic National Committee has substantially increased its backing of Sherrill to $3 million—marking the largest expenditure for an off-year election in New Jersey’s history.

Thus, Ciattarelli represents New Jersey’s best chance for significant change and relief from the persistent blues as the November election draws near.