New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli was visibly moved when his son, Army Officer Jake Ciattarelli, made an unexpected appearance during a campaign event at Murph’s Tavern in northern New Jersey. The visit occurred ahead of Tuesday’s election, drawing cheers from attendees as the GOP hopeful embraced his son.
Ciattarelli’s son, stationed in Kuwait, traveled overnight to support his father’s bid for governor. Passaic County Republican Chairman Peter Murphy highlighted the moment, stating, “You don’t know what I’m going to say right now, but your biggest supporter who serves his country just came over overnight to serve you.” The crowd erupted in applause and chants of “USA” as the pair reunited.
Ciattarelli joked about his son’s sudden arrival, quipping, “Now let me guess, you called the president yesterday. He sent Air Force One over to Kuwait and picked up Jack.” He also noted Jake’s plans to vote by mail despite his military duties, adding, “He probably forgot to get in his vote-by-mail ballot. He’s here to vote.”
Jake, a captain in the Army since late 2023, planned to stay in New Jersey through Thursday to assist his father’s campaign. Ciattarelli has frequently acknowledged his son’s service, including sharing a photo of Jake pointing to a “New Jersey Ave” sign in the Middle East earlier this year.
The race for governor remains tightly contested between Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill, with polls showing a narrow advantage for Sherrill. Both candidates made final campaign stops on Monday, targeting key suburban areas. Early voting has seen record participation, with Democrats holding a significant edge in mail-in ballots. However, Ciattarelli’s team insists internal polling indicates a dead-heat race, citing strong support in Republican-leaning regions.
The outcome hinges on voter turnout in urban Democratic strongholds and the contentious oversight of mail-in ballots in Passaic County, where federal monitors have been deployed amid allegations of fraud. Democrats have criticized the measures as attempts at voter suppression.