The Truth with Lisa Boothe: Jack Ciattarelli on New Jersey’s Governor Race

Date: October 30, 2025
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (The Truth with Lisa Boothe segment)
Host: Lisa Boothe
Guest: Jack Ciattarelli, Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey

Brief Overview

This episode centers on the New Jersey gubernatorial election, offering a detailed interview with Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli just days before the vote. Lisa Boothe explores the tightening poll numbers, Ciattarelli’s policy priorities, criticisms of Democratic opponent Mikie Sherrill, and the broader call for change in a state long governed by Democrats. The discussion is a mix of campaign strategy, contrasts with the opposition, and Ciattarelli’s vision for New Jersey on economic issues, education, taxes, and parental rights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Tight Race and Polling Dynamics (03:21 - 06:35)

• Boothe highlights the latest Emerson poll showing Ciattarelli trailing Democrat Mikie Sherrill by just 1 point, signaling momentum for Republicans.
• Ciattarelli explains why he always expected a close race and emphasizes “Republicans typically under poll in New Jersey because we’re outnumbered by so many people” (04:54).
• Growing support from across the aisle noted: “The reception in minority communities all across the state has been overwhelmingly positive. And when Democratic elected leaders are endorsing the Republican nominee ... it tells you people want change.” (05:04)
• Polling skepticism: Ciattarelli recounts that public polls were significantly off in prior cycles and says he trusts internal campaign data more.

2. Cross-Party Endorsements & Voter Dissatisfaction (05:32 - 08:55)

• 13 Democratic endorsements: Boothe confirms a high number of prominent Democrats backing Ciattarelli, a testament, he says, to widespread “dissatisfaction with [Governor] Phil Murphy’s governance” (05:56).
• The “majority of New Jersey voters want change,” with the economy as the decisive issue.

3. Critique of Opponent Mikie Sherrill (06:35 - 08:23, 15:26 - 19:23)

• Ciattarelli draws comparisons between Sherrill and Kamala Harris, describing both as “awkward on stage, inability to answer questions” (06:35).
• Integrity issues highlighted:
  • Naval Academy discipline: “She hasn’t come perfectly clean as to why” she was punished at the Naval Academy (07:34).
  • Unexplained wealth: “She triples her net worth, but can’t answer the question as to how that happened. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t know if they made $7 million?” (07:34)
  • Ethics concerns: “She violated federal law, had to pay fines for stock trades ... trading defense stocks while sitting on the House Armed Services Committee” (07:34).
• Press accountability: Ciattarelli laments that Sherrill “has gotten a pass by the press ... and doesn’t show up” to key campaign events (16:53).

4. New Jersey’s Current Challenges and the Battle for Change (08:23 - 10:49)

• Incumbent criticism: Ciattarelli labels the Murphy administration as a failure on taxes, spending, public safety, education, and affordability: “They’ve increased spending by 64% ... we slipped from 2 to 12 on the national report card.” (08:55)
• Voter frustration: “For all these reasons ... people are really just pissed.” (09:29)
• A "trait of mine": Clear, specific problem-solving is pitched as his leadership hallmark.

5. Motivation and Personal Stake (10:02 - 10:49)

• Ciattarelli, a lifelong New Jerseyan, frames his candidacy as personal: “When something I love is broken, I want to fix it. So this is not a vanity tour.” (10:09)
• He’s “already had the best titles in the world ... son, brother, husband and father” (10:20).

6. Top Policy Priorities (10:49 - 11:49)

• Reduce electricity bills: “On day one, by executive order, I pull us out of Reggie ... a carbon tax policy that has failed New Jerseyans.” (10:58)
• Cutting taxes: “Reduce ... state government to afford a tax cut for individuals and businesses ... who are the most overtaxed ... in the nation.” (11:18)
• Fix public education: “Get our public school curriculum back on track ... Reading, writing, math, science, civics. And get rid of that other stuff that Murphy’s put in there that belongs at home.” (11:33)

7. What a Sherrill Administration Would Entail (15:26 - 15:57)

• Ciattarelli predicts “more of the same, only worse. She’s ... endorsed every one of these failed policies.” (15:30)
• Claims Sherrill is “owned by party bosses ... special interests.”

8. Parental Rights & Social Policy (15:57 - 16:45)

• Criticizes Democrats' stance on gender and school parental notification:
  • “She voted yes twice for biological boys to participate in girls sports. I just don’t understand it. It’s one of those 80/20 issues ... I’m all about what’s fair.” (16:11)
  • “School districts keeping secrets from parents ... that’s immoral, indecent, wrong, and ... dangerous.” (16:33)

9. Naval Academy Plagiarism Scandal and Nepotism Accusations (17:33 - 18:42)

• Multiple and shifting explanations from Sherrill about plagiarism discipline: “She’s changed her story three times ... she refuses to release those records.” (17:53)
• On helping her children secure Naval Academy nominations: “Don’t you think it’s kind of strange that ... two of the 12 [nominees she announced publicly] are your own kids?” (18:42)
• All these issues, Ciattarelli says, “just speaks to character.” (19:00)

10. Mobilizing Republican Voters and Closing Strategy (19:23 - 21:15)

• “We’ve seen the greatest number of Republicans return their vote by mail ballots. In the five days of early voting thus far ... we’re matching the Democrats person for person. If we go into election day tied ... we kill it on election day.” (19:36)
• “The enthusiasm factor, mine versus hers, is off the charts.” (20:11)
• Ciattarelli expresses confidence and readiness: “We smell the goal line ... energized and determined. We’re going to finish strong.” (20:59)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Democratic cross-endorsements:
  “All across the state, Democrats have endorsed me, and I’m humbled and honored by it. But again, it only emphasizes how much people want change.”
  — Jack Ciattarelli, 05:41

• On Mainstream Polling Skepticism:
  “There are very few polls I trust other than our internal polling. … Many of these polls ... had me down by 12 with a week to go last time.”
  — Jack Ciattarelli, 06:07

• On Opponent’s “Character Problems”:
  “Who wouldn’t know if they made $7 million? ... It just speaks to character.”
  — Jack Ciattarelli, 07:34

• On Parental Rights:
  “School districts keeping secrets from parents, I mean, that’s immoral, indecent, wrong, and, I believe, dangerous.”
  — Jack Ciattarelli, 16:33

• On Enthusiasm:
  “When there’s ... the enthusiasm factor, mine versus hers is off the charts.”
  — Jack Ciattarelli, 20:11

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Context: 03:21 – 04:43
• Why the Race Is Tight: 04:43 – 06:35
• Democratic Endorsements & Voter Discontent: 05:32 – 08:23
• Criticisms of Mikie Sherrill: 06:35 – 08:23, 15:26 – 19:23
• Statewide Issues & Voter Frustration: 08:23 – 10:49
• Personal Stake & Motivation: 10:02 – 10:49
• Top Three Policy Priorities: 10:49 – 11:49
• On Sherrill’s Potential Governorship: 15:26 – 15:57
• Parental Rights, Gender Policy: 15:57 – 16:45
• Naval Academy + Nepotism Issues: 17:33 – 18:42
• Republican Enthusiasm & GOTV: 19:23 – 21:15
• Closing Thoughts: 21:15 – 21:33

Tone & Style

The conversation is direct, energetic, and campaign-focused. Lisa Boothe contrasts Democratic and Republican platforms with pointed questions. Ciattarelli remains optimistic and policy-oriented while also engaging in sharp personal critiques of Sherrill’s character and background. Emotional language is used to emphasize urgency (“people are pissed,” “smell the goal line,” “it just speaks to character”).

This summary covers the key topics, positions, and moments from the episode, making it accessible and actionable for anyone seeking clarity about the New Jersey governor’s race and Jack Ciattarelli’s platform.