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Trumpian Pastor Joins NJ Gov Race, Challenging Ciattarelli to Move Even Further to the Right

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Yesterday, major Trump supporter and Pastor Phillip Rizzo entered the New Jersey governor’s race, solidifying that the already-crowded primary will be a long, messy fight over who is the most conservative. In his announcement, Rizzo declared himself a “strong supporter of President Trump” and questioned frontrunner Jack Ciattarelli’s commitment to the Trump agenda, even though Ciattarelli has signaled clearly that he stands with the disgraced former president.


Ciattarelli has run his campaign really far to the right in a desperate effort to win over Trump’s base in New Jersey. Ciattarelli voted for Trump in November because he believes the Trump administration’s agenda, which has included attempting to strip health care away from millions and cut aid for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, has been good for America.” Ciattarelli also attended a “Stop the Steal” rally like the one that led to the January 6th insurrection and supported Trump’s lies about election fraud, despite having no evidence to back up Republicans’ wild claims.


The NJ GOP primary is a revolving door of Trump lackeys. In addition to Ciattarelli and Rizzo, the race includes failed candidate Brian Levine, who has still refused to say whether he attended Trump’s superspreader fundraiser in Bedminster, and perennial Trump wannabe candidates Hirsh Singh and Joseph Rudy Rullo. Former NJGOP Doug Steinhardt left the race after backlash against his unwavering support for Trump following the January 6th insurrection.


“Phil Rizzo’s entrance to the race has tipped the scales even further to the right,” said DGA Deputy Communications Director Christina Amestoy. “Jack Ciattarelli will have to battle it out in the crowded primary field to prove he is the most loyal to Trump. Regardless of who ends up on top – Donald Trump’s disastrous agenda will be on the ballot again in 2021.”