NJ Mayor Breaks With Dems To Endorse Republican Candidate For Governor

This goes beyond partisan politics…

A Democrat mayor in New Jersey has opted to support a Republican candidate for Governor.

Dover Mayor James Dodd announced he is endorsing Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who is also backed by President Donald Trump. Mayor Dodd cited rising taxes, sanctuary city policies, and what he called a lack of real solutions in his reasons for breaking with Democrats.

“I’ve had the opportunity twice now to have Jack Ciattarelli come to the town of Dover, explain his vision, his views on how to fix the state of New Jersey,” Dodd said Tuesday on “Fox & Friends First.”

“He has real solutions to fix these problems in our state. And that’s what we need right now.”

Dodd said immigration policy was a deciding factor for him in the Garden State.

“On day one, Jack made a commitment to end sanctuary cities and the state of New Jersey will no longer be a sanctuary state. We need to let our law enforcement do their job. And I see these constant problems here in my small community in the town of Dover, and we need real solutions,” he said. 

Dodd, who has supported Sherrill in the past, argued she has not offered solutions this election cycle.

“We don’t hear real solutions from Mikie,” he said, citing rising retirement costs, higher taxes and increased state spending.

Dodd also pointed to shifting political winds in his community, which is located about 40 miles west of New York City. 

“Dover is primarily a Hispanic community, and we’re seeing a lot of Hispanics go from Democrat, which they predominantly are, to Republicans because they’re tired of the system that’s failed, that doesn’t work any longer in our town and in our state. So I think, yes, we are [going to] start to see a lot of people flip red.”

Ciattarelli is facing off against Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill in a progressively tight race. He previously lost to current Gov. Phil Murphy (D) in 2021, who is term-limited.

While he is a registered Democrat, Dodd suggested he may switch parties on the future.

“I haven’t made that decision yet, but I can tell you this, if I do decide to flip to Republican, I can tell you that a lot of council members will go with me,” he said. 

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