ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — Just weeks after Republican candidate for governor Bill Spadea said the Republican party engaged in corrupt and rigged county nominating conventions, a second candidate for governor is echoing Spadea’s claim, this time targeting Ocean County.
“For decades, candidates for office have followed the orders of party bosses and abided by the convention process because the ‘County Line’ impacted the outcome of elections and required it,” Spadea said.
The only convention Spadea will participate in will be in Ocean County where he is being accused of paying Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore over $80,000 in services.
The payments didn’t go unnoticed by Ciattarelli.
“At today’s screening committee, I look forward to sharing my vision for a safer, more affordable and more prosperous state, as well as my commitment to working in concert with President Trump to put New Jersey and America First,” Ciattarelli wrote said about the convention. “At the same time, I am under no illusions about the screening committee’s outcome, nor the outcome of your convention in a few weeks.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mario Kranjac on Saturday condemned the Ocean County Republican Committee’s endorsement process, calling it a “rigged” system designed to favor certain candidates. He urged his opponents to reject any backing from the committee, arguing that the process lacks transparency and undermines election integrity.
Kranjac also took aim at Spadea, saying it was operating a scam operation.
“Republican voters expect their candidates for governor to fight for election integrity, not pay for endorsements or ‘win’ rigged votes,” Kranjac said. “No candidate who is serious about election integrity should be involved in this sham.”
Kranjac’s remarks follow reports that some members of the committee are considering legal action against party officials over the planned convention. He criticized the process, drawing a comparison to last year’s primary, in which Ocean County endorsed a U.S. Senate candidate Kranjac labeled as “anti-Trump” and “pro-abortion.”
“The convention they’re planning violates every principle of election integrity that President Trump has been fighting for,” Kranjac said.
The Republican candidate said his campaign sought detailed information about the endorsement process, voting rules, and committee members but received only limited details. He also accused Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore of receiving nearly $100,000 from Spadea.
“Clearly those payments are tied to this convention,” he said. “We don’t know who the voters are or what the complete rules are.”
Kranjac also criticized the use of electronic voting machines in the convention process, arguing that Republican organizations should prioritize election security.
“No county Republican organization should be for sale, they shouldn’t have secret bylaws, and they shouldn’t be using electronic voting machines,” he said. “Election integrity must start at home by conducting elections on hand-counted paper ballots.”
“It’s notable that George is the ONLY County Chairman in the state to so brazenly accept payment for what is widely seen as an attempt to rig your process,” Ciattarelli said. “Unlike Bill Spadea, I don’t run from fights.”
Ciattarelli said spadea’s withdrawal from the official process signified that the former U.S. Marine was scared to face reality in this year’s election.