Conservative family group endorses Ciattarelli

A conservative, Christian organization endorsed Jack Ciattarelli for governor on Thursday as the former assemblyman moves on to the general election.

The New Jersey Family Policy Center argued that Ciattarelli will be the strongest choice to support parental-rights and anti-abortion policy in the state.

“Jack Ciattarelli champions the heart of NJ families by defending parental rights in education, ensuring children thrive in safe environments free from objectionable curricula,” Allan Wright, the group’s executive director, said in a release. “He stands firm against mandates that erode family autonomy, supports pregnancy centers, protects girls’ sports, and safeguards religious freedom.”

Ciattarelli dominated the Republican primary, beating his next-closest competitor, former radio host Bill Spadea, by more than 40 percentage points. As of Wednesday afternoon, Ciattarelli and Spadea hadn’t spoken, according to Politico’s Matt Friedman, and it remains unclear the extent to which Spadea-backing groups will coalesce behind Ciattarelli.

One such group was the state’s largest anti-abortion group, New Jersey Right to Life, which endorsed Spadea in November. The group hesitantly “recommended” Ciattarelli in the 2021 campaign, when he lost to Gov. Phil Murphy by 3 percentage points. New Jersey Right to Life refused to fully endorse Ciattarelli at the time because of his proclaimed support of abortion rights.

New Jersey Right to Life did not return a call from the New Jersey Globe on Thursday asking if the group planned to endorse Ciattarelli for the general election.

Regardless, Ciattarelli has an ally with the New Jersey Family Policy Center, and potentially other similarly minded conservative groups that seek to return to a GOP governorship.

“Over the past few years, pregnancy resource centers and school boards have been dragged into court by Attorney General Matt Platkin,” said Shawn Hyland, the group’s director of advocacy. “We are looking forward with great hope to a Ciattarelli administration that will work alongside us and for us—unlike the Murphy/Sherrill administration, which has actively opposed our values by fighting parents every step of the way.”