Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli named Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon as his running mate Wednesday, making the announcement at a campaign stop in Boonton as the general election matchup with Rep. Mikie Sherrill begins to take shape.
Gannon, a three-term sheriff and former law enforcement officer with decades of experience, joins the ticket in a cycle where Republicans are emphasizing public safety, taxes, and immigration enforcement.
“I stand before you honored and humbled to be your candidate for lieutenant governor in the state of New Jersey,” Gannon said at the announcement rally. “I’m energized to elect Jack Ciattarelli as our next governor and save our great state.”
Gannon criticized Democratic leadership on affordability, development, and immigration, specifically pledging to repeal the Immigrant Trust Directive, which limits cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. “We’ll take the handcuffs off our police,” he said.
Ciattarelli, the GOP nominee for a third straight election, framed Gannon as a seasoned public servant with deep ties to Morris County—a battleground region key to Republican chances in November.
“For the past 40 years, this man has walked the beat, he has served in every capacity there is in law enforcement, and he’s dedicated his life to protecting our community,” Ciattarelli said.
Democrats quickly responded, portraying the move as a defensive one. Sherrill’s campaign described the selection as “a clear sign Ciattarelli is struggling in traditionally Republican areas,” pointing to her track record of winning in Morris County.
Republican leaders, meanwhile, praised the pick. State Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco and Assemblyman Mike Inganamort were both present at the announcement.
If elected, Gannon would become the state’s first male lieutenant governor since the position was created in 2009. The role serves as acting governor when needed and typically oversees a state department, though Ciattarelli has not yet announced where Gannon would serve.
The latest Rutgers-Eagleton poll showed Ciattarelli trailing Sherrill, though strategists from both parties expect a close race. Republicans are expected to make crime and police support central to their messaging, with Gannon playing a key role.
Ciattarelli lost narrowly to Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021 and is now seeking to return Republicans to the State House after nearly a decade out of power.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.