Frontrunner Emerges in GOP Gubernatorial Primary?
Republican gubernatorial candidate and former New Jersey Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who’s run for the office twice before, has a “commanding lead” in name recognition and favorability over three rivals in this year’s primary field, according to a recent Fairleigh Dickinson University public opinion poll.
78% of the 430 Republicans surveyed by FDU recognized Ciattarelli’s name, compared to 54% for rival Bill Spadea, 43% for state Sen. Jon Bramnick, and 41% for former state Senator Ed Durr.
Ciattarelli also has the most reporting favorable views of him, at 39% to Spadea’s 22%, Durr’s 21% and Bramnick’s 18%. 15% view him unfavorably, compared to 10% for Spadea, 8% for Bramnick, and 7% for Durr.
Senate Committee Addresses Utility Rate Hikes
The New Jersey Senate Legislative Oversight Committee recently met to discuss the surging demand for power from AI data centers and the new utility rate increases expected to impact consumer energy bills this summer.
Utility bills are set to increase by about $25 a month in June, thanks to a power supply crunch within New Jersey and across a 13-state power market that the state relies on.
In the days following the hearing, Assembly lawmakers introduced a wave of legislation to remake New Jersey’s energy market in response to outrage over skyrocketing power prices.
One bill, A5439, which is supported by Democratic leadership, would restructure the state’s utility companies, allowing PSE&G and other utilities to build their own power plants for the first time in a quarter-century. The goal is to spur utilities to quickly build new power plants to meet rising electricity demand.
This legislation would repeal a 1999 law that forced utilities to get rid of power plants and gave consumers a choice about who they buy their power from. Currently, utilities own transmission and distribution lines and send people bills, but they don't control the price of power that comes through the lines they own.
New EDA Programs Position NJ as Leader in AI Development
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has approved two initiatives to position the state as an AI leader: the Next New Jersey Program – AI and the AI Innovation Challenge Administration Grant Program, aligning with Gov. Phil Murphy’s vision to drive AI investment and collaboration.
The $500 million Next New Jersey Program – AI offers tax credits to businesses investing at least $100 million in AI infrastructure and creating 100+ full-time jobs. Eligible companies must collaborate with New Jersey research institutions, startups, or incubators.
The AI Innovation Challenge Administration Grant Program will allocate $3.8 million to an administrator managing a statewide AI Challenge. The initiative will engage diverse stakeholders in developing AI solutions for public and social challenges, culminating in a competitive event, prototype showcase, and demo day to support winning teams in advancing their AI solutions.
These efforts complement New Jersey’s broader AI strategy, including the AI Hub announced in 2023 with Princeton University, Microsoft, and CoreWeave, as well as NJEDA’s AI-focused New Jersey Innovation Fellows Program (NJIF), which offers up to $400,000 in grants for AI startups.
Spadea’s Super PACs
As Republican gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey vie for the support of President Donald Trump, Bill Spadea has gained backing from three super PACs, two of which were previously aligned with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Legacy of Liberty, led by Gabriel Llanes—former executive director of Ready for Ron—recently released an ad claiming Spadea has “earned the trust of President Trump.” Another pro-Spadea PAC, Rebuilding New Jersey, is run by veteran strategist Ed Rollins, who briefly worked for Ready for Ron before leaving over concerns about DeSantis as a candidate. A third PAC, The Voice of New Jersey, launched ads in January but has shown little activity since.
The strained Trump-DeSantis relationship following DeSantis’ 2024 primary loss continues to impact Republican politics, including Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race, where Trump has endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds, even as Casey DeSantis considers a run.
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