President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Jack Ciattarelli for the Republican nomination for governor of New Jersey on Monday, a move that political analysts say effectively ends the competitive phase of the GOP primary race.

Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman and the 2021 Republican gubernatorial nominee, was already leading his closest challenger, conservative radio host Bill Spadea, by approximately 30 percentage points in recent polls.

In a post on X, Ciattarelli expressed gratitude for the endorsement, stating, “Truly humbled and honored to receive President Trump’s very strong endorsement today. It’s time to unite our party, win big in November, and make New Jersey affordable and safe again.”

The endorsement, which comes less than a month before the June 10 primary, is seen as a decisive blow to Spadea and other candidates vying for the nomination.

Trump’s backing carries significant weight in New Jersey’s Republican primary, particularly following his strong performance in the state during the 2024 presidential election, where he narrowed the Democratic margin to just six points, a 10-point improvement from 2020.

Political insiders have long speculated that Trump’s endorsement could be a kingmaker in the race, given his influence over the party’s base.

Ciattarelli’s commanding lead in the primary has been bolstered by his high name recognition, earned through his near-upset of Democratic Governor Phil Murphy in 2021, where he lost by just three percentage points. His campaign has focused on uniting the party, appealing to both moderate Republicans and the MAGA base, while emphasizing issues like affordability, public safety, and education reform.

Ciattarelli’s meeting with Trump at his Bedminster golf club in March, followed by public displays of their interaction, including photos with Trump and Elon Musk, had already fueled speculation of an impending endorsement.

Spadea, who has positioned himself as an “unapologetically pro-Trump” candidate, has struggled to close the gap despite his own meeting with Trump in Bedminster and a campaign centered on appealing to the MAGA base. His team has accused Ciattarelli of inconsistent loyalty to Trump, pointing to Ciattarelli’s past criticisms of the former president in 2016 and his donation to Chris Christie’s 2024 presidential campaign.

However, Ciattarelli’s endorsement of Trump in 2024 and his strategic outreach to Trump voters have evidently swayed the former president.

With Trump’s endorsement, Ciattarelli is now positioned as the overwhelming favorite to secure the Republican nomination. The primary winner will face the Democratic nominee in November, in a state where Republicans are optimistic about their chances following Trump’s 2024 gains and historical trends favoring the party out of power in gubernatorial elections.

Ciattarelli’s campaign is already pivoting toward the general election, emphasizing a message of unity and electability. “My job is to make the case that I’m the only one that provides the only opportunity to win in November,” Ciattarelli said in a recent interview.

Meanwhile, all eyes are now turning to the Democratic primary, where six viable candidates are vying for the nomination in a race that remains a total tossup. With no clear frontrunner and few reliable polls to provide insight, the Democratic contest is marked by uncertainty.

The candidates, including a mix of state legislators, local officials, and prominent activists, have been aggressively campaigning across the state, but none have yet emerged as a dominant force. Political observers note that the lack of a standout candidate could lead to a highly competitive and unpredictable primary, where any of the candidates could emerge the victor.