One of the many questions being asked by New Jersey Trump voters at the moment: is there a genuine Trump-y candidate for governor in the current Election 2025 GOP primary field?
One leading New Jersey MAGA activist isn’t so sure.
On Friday, podcaster and former NJ-04 House candidate Mike Crispi told his followers on X that one of the four Republican contenders – state Senator Jon Bramnick (R-21) – is supported only by either the “really dumb” or “deeply sinister.” A liberal Republican, Bramnick is a frequent detractor of President-elect Trump and a frequent ally of Democrat Governor Phil Murphy.
But Crispi went a step further, asserting that there isn’t currently a “clear authentic MAGA candidate” in the field:
If you’re a Republican in New Jersey and you support Trump-Hater John Bramnick in the Governor primary, even after Trump led this state to its best finish since 1988, you’re either really dumb or deeply sinister.
Either way you’ve lost all credibility going forward with the base
— Mike Crispi (@MikeCrispi) November 29, 2024
Right now the field has no clear authentic MAGA candidate. Waiting to see what develops in the next few months.
— Mike Crispi (@MikeCrispi) November 30, 2024
“Right now the field has no clear authentic MAGA candidate,” wrote Crispi in response to a follower’s reply. “Waiting to see what develops in the next few months.”
The remaining candidates are 2021 nominee Jack Ciattarelli, NJ 101.5 host Bill Spadea, and former state Senator Ed “The Trucker” Durr of LD3. Most of the action thus far has centered around Ciattarelli and Spadea who are actively beating each other up over their past positions and who is more loyal to the President-elect and his agenda.
Phil Murphy is term limited heading into the 2025 contest, and his own party is presently hosting a circus primary featuring multiple candidates with no clear frontrunner.
Trump has not yet endorsed in the Republican contest.
