Republican New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli ended his campaign on an emotional note Monday night when his son, U.S. Army Captain Nicholas Ciattarelli, surprised him on stage after returning home from a yearlong deployment in Kuwait. The moment unfolded during the final rally of his campaign in Bridgewater, drawing tears, applause, and chants of “USA” from supporters in the crowd.
As Jack Ciattarelli took the stage to deliver his closing speech ahead of Tuesday’s high-stakes election, the crowd erupted when his son walked out from behind the curtains in full uniform. The candidate paused, visibly moved, before embracing him tightly. “This is the best surprise I’ve ever had,” Ciattarelli said as the audience gave a standing ovation. The reunion capped off what has been one of the most closely watched gubernatorial races in the country.
The former state assemblyman has been running a Trump-endorsed campaign emphasizing lower taxes, stricter border security, and a rollback of what he calls “overreaching government mandates.” His Democratic opponent, incumbent Governor Mikie Sherrill, has focused on maintaining progressive policies while highlighting Ciattarelli’s close alignment with former President Donald Trump.
Trump, who held a tele-rally for Ciattarelli earlier in the day, praised him as a “fighter” who would bring “common sense and strong leadership” back to New Jersey. The president urged voters to “show up in force” to secure what he described as a “massive red wave in a blue state.”
Political analysts say the race has tightened dramatically in recent weeks, with polling showing a narrow margin separating the two candidates. Ciattarelli’s campaign has drawn support from conservatives energized by Trump’s involvement, while Democrats have mobilized in large numbers to defend Sherrill’s administration.
The surprise reunion with his son gave Ciattarelli’s final rally a deeply personal touch—contrasting the often combative tone of the campaign. “No matter what happens tomorrow,” he told the crowd after the emotional moment, “this right here makes it all worth it.”
With Election Day underway, both parties are bracing for what could be one of the closest gubernatorial contests New Jersey has seen in decades.