In a stunning political pivot, Garfield, New Jersey Mayor Everett E. Garnto, Jr. has abandoned the Democratic Party to throw his support behind Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli.
According to Breitbart, this dramatic shift, announced during a lively rally in Garfield, signals a growing frustration with Gov. Phil Murphy’s leadership in one of Bergen County’s most populous municipalities.
Garnto, a lifelong Garfield resident and retired police officer with nearly three decades of service, made the announcement on Thursday to a packed crowd. As a former city council member elected as a Democrat just last year, and later selected as mayor by his peers, his defection is a significant blow to the state’s Democratic establishment. It’s a bold move in a city of over 30,000, the fifth-largest in Bergen County, where political loyalties are often deeply entrenched.
Michael Casey, New Jersey State Director for Early Vote Action, described the rally on X as “standing room only” with hundreds in attendance. Such enthusiasm in a city long considered a Democratic bastion suggests a seismic shift, one that conservatives might see as a rejection of progressive overreach. It’s hard not to smirk at the thought of Murphy’s team scrambling to explain this away.
Garnto didn’t mince words, declaring at the rally that “the state is broken.” He laid the blame squarely at Murphy’s feet, pointing to what he called “sky-high taxes” and “soaring electric bills.” For many hardworking New Jerseyans, these aren’t just soundbites—they’re the harsh reality of policies that seem more focused on ideology than affordability.
The mayor also lamented “less safe communities” under Murphy’s tenure, a critique that resonates with those tired of seeing public safety take a backseat to political correctness. Garnto’s plea that “New Jerseyans deserve better” isn’t just rhetoric; it’s a call to action for voters fed up with the status quo. One can’t help but wonder if more Democrats are quietly nodding in agreement.
Garnto praised Ciattarelli as “the right leader” for this moment, a sentiment that aligns with a broader wave of dissatisfaction across the state. It’s telling that Garfield, a city narrowly won by Murphy by just over 150 votes in 2021, is now witnessing such a public rebuke of his policies. The winds of change are blowing, and they’re not in the governor’s favor.
Ciattarelli, speaking on Fox News earlier this week, echoed Garnto’s frustrations, arguing that Murphy’s energy agenda has left residents “paying through the nose.” It’s a sharp jab at policies that seem to prioritize green dreams over practical budgets. For many families, these costs aren’t abstract—they’re a monthly gut punch.
Ciattarelli also noted on Fox News that people across New Jersey are “upset” with Murphy’s track record over the past seven and a half years. He’s not wrong to point out that even moderate Democrats are starting to question the governor’s direction. When your own party’s mayors jump ship, it’s not just a ripple—it’s a tidal wave.
At the Garfield rally, Ciattarelli addressed the crowd, emphasizing that “it’s not just Republicans” seeking change. He’s tapping into a broader coalition of unaffiliated and independent voters, and yes, even Democrats who see the current administration as out of touch. It’s a clever strategy—uniting the frustrated under a banner of common sense over partisan dogma.
Ciattarelli further remarked that many have realized “this current administration has failed.” His campaign’s focus on lowering costs and restoring affordability strikes a chord with those weary of progressive experiments that drain wallets. If Murphy’s team isn’t sweating yet, they might want to start.
Garnto isn’t the only Democrat to defect; he’s the second mayor in recent days to back Ciattarelli, following Dover Mayor James Dodd. Add to that the support of Jamel Holley, a former Democratic assemblyman and Roselle mayor who switched parties earlier this summer, and you’ve got a pattern. It’s almost as if the Democratic grip on New Jersey is slipping through their fingers like sand.
Ciattarelli’s campaign is gaining traction with endorsements beyond party lines, including from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825. Even more notably, he’s secured a “Complete and Total Endorsement” from former President Donald Trump, a nod that energizes the conservative base. For those who value strong leadership, this is a signal that Ciattarelli means business.
Local voter trends in Garfield, where Trump won by nearly nine points in a recent election, underscore a shifting political landscape that Garnto himself acknowledged by admitting his support for Trump in the last presidential race. This isn’t just a mayor switching sides—it’s a reflection of a community reevaluating its priorities. Perhaps it’s time for state leaders to stop dismissing these voices as mere outliers.
As Ciattarelli continues to crisscross the state, his message of fiscal responsibility and practical governance seems to be resonating. The question now is whether more disillusioned Democrats will follow Garnto’s lead and whether this momentum can challenge the entrenched powers in Trenton. For conservatives, it’s a glimmer of hope that common-sense policies might just have a fighting chance.