In a remarkable shift in New Jersey politics, every Orthodox Jewish council in the Lakewood region—covering Lakewood, Jackson, Toms River, Howell and Manchester—has announced its unanimous endorsement of Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli.
Community leaders described the coordinated decision as the first of its kind in the area, signifying a strategic alignment across municipalities that have previously acted independently. They cited concerns over education funding, property taxes, and religious-school support as central issues driving their endorsement.
Ciattarelli welcomed the support, thanking the councils for their confidence and promising to prioritize the needs of the region’s Jewish community if elected. The endorsement is widely seen as a potential turning point in the race, with the bloc representing tens of thousands of votes in a key battleground area.