Our first and probably most-watched interview of last weekend’s 2023 GOP Summit was a sit down with Bill Spadea, Save Jerseyans.
The NJ 101.5 host is – to the surprise of no one who follows him – generating intense speculation that he’s working on a 2025 gubernatorial bid, speculation that’s ramped up considerably following the recent announcement of the formation of a political action committee led by Ocean County’s George Gilmore. Spadea’s first-ever appearance at the annual statewide leadership event in A.C. (where he also hosted a reception for attendees) was the talk of the event among both supporters and detractos.
You can watch my full conversation with Bill and Dan Cirucci here.
Highlights?
At one point, I asked Bill point-blank whether he was considering running in 2025. “Certainly, the thought has crossed my mind,” Spadea responded at the 14:57 mark, “and it’s something we will be considering and thinking about over the next year.” That response won’t surprise most New Jersey political observers, but it’s still the most concrete confirmation to date of Spadea’s increasingly unambiguous 2025 intentions.
Bill also defended his pointed and what some opponents would say was politically-destructive criticism of Jack Ciattarelli and the 2021 GOP gubernatorial nominee’s ill-fated campaign:
Jack Ciattarelli is the past.
He's a perennial candidate who's been in politics for the past 30 years. He's a product of failed leadership in our party over those three decades.
Time for a change. pic.twitter.com/2vfRWgIe81
— Bill Spadea (@BillSpadea) March 13, 2023
Bill also offered his own impressions of the NJGOP summit and where (and how) he believes the New Jersey Republican Party needs to improve if it wants to win in 2023 and beyond:
It's time for our party to reach out beyond the perennial candidates, beyond the consultants, and speak directly to the people of New Jersey.
Listen, organize, mobilize, and bring in NEW faces. pic.twitter.com/7y13Bdezlq
— Bill Spadea (@BillSpadea) March 12, 2023
