Does a 2020 Trump endorsement hold water in 2025?
One of Primary Day’s hot undercard battles is being waged in the 39th Legislative District, Save Jerseyans, where former congressional candidate Frank Pallotta is challenging the incumbent Republican Assembly slate of Bob Auth and John Azzariti.
The latest controversy in this ugly internal party slugfest: a text blast from the Pallotta campaign trumpeting Pallotta’s endorsement by Donald Trump which would make the financial industry vet the only New Jersey candidate besides Jack Ciattarelli to receive the honor this cycle.
It is true that Pallotta was endorsed by President Trump, but there’s a catch: the endorsement dates back to 2020 from his NJ-05 congressional campaign. Pallotta hasn’t been re-endorsed (as of this writing) this year in the context of his NJ-39 Assembly campaign.
The text triggered an angry response from Pallotta’s opponents who insist that the endorsement text is misleading.
“Don’t believe the lies and deception of desperate candidates,” opined Assemblyman Azzariti on his Facebook page. “Our next Governor, Jack Ciattarelli, is endorsed by President Donald J. Trump and I’m sincerely thankful for Jack’s support of MY candidacy. President Trump has NOT endorsed candidates in ANY New Jersey Assembly races. Any implication or deception to the contrary is meant to trick voters. Let’s work to MAKE NEW JERSEY RED AGAIN!”
Pallotta, for his part, defended the endorsement claim and accused his detractors of suffering from a reading comprehension deficit.
“Apparently, reading comprehension isn’t a prerequisite for a scant few serving in the New Jersey State Legislature – at least not for Senator Schepisi, her Assembly team and their crew,” wrote Pallotta on his own Facebook page. “Maybe it’s time for a refresher course in grade-school grammar? Our campaign has been loud and proud about our past Trump endorsement from day one – complete with dates, and past Congressional campaign references! Sorry if the facts are a little too much for the opposition to handle! Guess they’re worried, since in a NJ Assembly race with over 100 candidates on both sides of the aisle, I’m still the only one who has EVER been endorsed – past or present – by any US President. Maybe that’s what really stings.”
Save Jersey reached out to Frank Pallotta for comment; this article will be updated if and when the candidate decides to offer additional reaction.
The entire New Jersey General Assembly is on the ballot in November. North Jersey’s LD39 is considered a reliable Republican district but, due to its large volume of affluent and relatively well-educated suburbs, is viewed by Democrats as a reach opportunity in the “right” cycle.
