Trump gave a major endorsement to the Republican candidate for governor in New Jersey

President Donald Trumpannounced his endorsement of Jack Ciattarelli as the Republican candidate for the governorship of New Jersey, less than a month before the party's primaries.

The endorsement, issued through his Truth Social network, solidifies Ciattarelli as the favorite for the Republican nomination, in a race that has been dominated by the debate over which candidate best represents Trump's values and his "America First" movement.

In his message, Trump described Ciattarelli as an "excellent America First candidate" and celebrated his conversion into a loyal ally of the MAGA movement, despite having criticized the president in certain aspects in the past.

In 2015, Ciattarelli called him a "charlatan" and asked him to drop out of the presidential race in 2016. Although he has tried to downplay those statements, his opponents have repeatedly accused him of being a "RINO" (Republican In Name Only) or a "never-Trumper."

This is the third time Ciattarelli has sought the governorship. He was the Republican nominee in 2021, when he came close to defeating the current Democratic governor Phil Murphy, gaining notoriety and recognition among the state electorate.

Compared to his previous campaign, Ciattarelli has adopted a more openly pro-Trump stance, seeking to attract a Republican base increasingly aligned with the former president.

The Republican race has been marked by a direct confrontation between Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea, a former radio host and hardline Trumpism advocate. Both have competed intensely to present themselves as the true political heir of Trump in the state.

Spadea has attacked Ciattarelli for his past criticism of Trump, while Ciattarelli has replied by highlighting that Spadea also expressed doubts in 2021 about a possible return of Trump to politics.

Although Spadea had received praise from Trump on his radio show and had been endorsed by figures like Michael Flynn, former national security advisor, Trump's decision to officially support Ciattarelli changes the electoral landscape and likely weakens Spadea's narrative as the "authentically MAGA candidate."

However, Spadea has reiterated that he doesn't commit to supporting Ciattarelli if he wins the primary.

Despite Trump's endorsement, his influence has not always been decisive in New Jersey. In 2023, his Senate candidate, Christine Serrano Glassner, lost to Curtis Bashaw in the primaries, showing that Trump's support doesn't guarantee victory, especially in a traditionally Democratic state.

Another key element in these primaries is the elimination of the "county line" system, which previously gave a visual advantage on ballots to candidates endorsed by the parties.

This year, Ciattarelli was the only Republican to formally compete in the county conventions, winning most by default, while Spadea opted for a direct strategy toward voters, largely avoiding that process.

The campaign also features intense involvement from former Trump allies on both sides. Kellyanne Conway leads a super PAC in favor of Ciattarelli, while Bill Stepien, former Trump campaign manager, advises Spadea.

Other Republican candidates include state senator Jon Bramnick, an open critic of Trump, and lesser-known figures like Mario Kranjac and Justin Barbera.