Trump ally Mike Crispi launches exploratory bid for Governor

Mike Crispi, a staunchly pro-Donald Trump conservative podcaster and America First Republicans of New Jersey chairman, announced tonight that he is exploring a bid for the GOP nomination for governor in 2025, a move that potentially alters the playing field with the addition of an unabashed pro-MAGA candidate, anti-establishment candidate.

“I am officially forming the America First exploratory committee to get this gubernatorial race back on the right track,” Crispi said in an eleven-minute video announcing his plans.  “I am forming this exploratory committee to take a very serious look at entering the race myself or finding the candidate who will hold muster.”

He touted his “steadfast” support of Trump since 2015 and said he’s the only one in the race who “has never wavered” from that.

Crispi’s interest in the governor’s race comes at a time when two other contenders, NJ 101.5 radio personality Bill Spadea and former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, are battling for the support of Trump Republicans in New Jersey.

He criticized any effort by the two to portray themselves as MAGA warriors.

“When you peel back the onion on all of these candidates, the answer is that there is no clear, authentic MAGA candidate in the race right now,” he said.  “This is why state, county, and municipal elected officials have urged me to run and unequivocally defend the America First Trump agenda. If we want to beat the Democrats next year, we must first beat the bad actors within our own party.”

In his video, Crispi said Trump’s unexpectedly strong showing in New Jersey – he finished less than six percentage points behind Kamala Harris – is a sign that Republicans need a Trump-style candidate in the race.

“They were hungry for authentic, conservative, MAGA leadership,” he said.  “No more squishy Chris Christieesque Republican values in the state.  Those days are over.”

He specifically called out New Jersey Republicans who backed an anti-Trump candidate for Republican National Committeeman, Christie loyalist Bill Palatucci, over Trump’s endorsed candidate.  Palatucci refused to endorse Trump for president in the general election.

“We need to overhaul the committee, and any sensible MAGA voice must advocate for this,” he said.

Crispi also criticized Republican county chairs for backing moderate Curtis Bashaw for U.S. Senate against Trump’s wishes, claiming that Bashaw was a drag on the ticket.

“If we had a good Senate candidate that wasn’t nominated out of that corrupt, rigged system, he could have helped President Trump,” stated Crispi.

Like Trump, Crispi says he wants to drain the swamp in New Jersey.

“Until we clear out the Republican Party from the inside out and don’t have any candidates tethered to any of the old-school stuff, we will not move ahead. We need candidates who speak clearly on January 6th,” he said.  “We saw what Joe Biden did with Hunter Biden. We have dozens of people in New Jersey who have languished away in prisons, and we have candidates now who are afraid to say the difficult right things.”

He also called for the abolition of county organization lines in New Jersey.

Trump advisor Roger Stone, who came up with the idea of abolishing county organization lines when he was Tom Kean’s top strategist in the 1981 governor’s race, praised Crispi’s skills and his loyalty to Trump.

“He has an enormous talent and enormous energy and enormous drive,” said Stone.  “Mike did a great job for the president.”

Stone said Crispi was undaunted by the Trump campaign not spending money in New Jersey, and was impressed by his 21-county efforts.

Giancarlo Ghione, a leader in the America First group and a former Bergen County GOP executive director, said Crispi “has proven to be President Trump’s strongest ally in New Jersey.”

“If any of the currently announced candidates truly took their obligation to advance President Trump’s agenda seriously, they would have sought collaboration with the State’s premier America First movement leaders. As others shy away from this responsibility, Crispi is considering a run to become New Jersey’s first America First governor.” Ghione said.  “His nine years of unwavering dedication to Trump speak volumes, and the issues he raises demand attention.”

Crispi said his exploratory committee “has already begun speaking with grassroots activists, local elected officials and party leaders at every level of government, including nationally to identify the right course ahead.”

He expects a decision within the next 90 days, but he will need to declare sooner if he wants to begin raising money and qualify for New Jersey’s Gubernatorial Public Financing Program, which provides $2 in state funds for every $1 raised.

In 2022, Crispi challenged Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Manchester) in the GOP primary, but lost by a 58%-37% margin in a short race under a new map.

The race also includes State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), who is campaigning as an anti-Trump Republican, and former State Sen. Ed Durr (R-Logan), a Trump supporter.  Former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjic is also mulling a run for governor.