TRENTON, New Jersey — New Jersey State Republicans criticized outgoing Governor Phil Murphy, who delivered his final State of the State address on Tuesday as he wraps up eight years in office.

“Despite Governor Murphy’s statements to the contrary, New Jersey is neither stronger nor fairer today than it was when he took office. Our state’s residents are certainly not better off now than they were eight years ago,” said Christine Giordano Hanlon, Chairwoman of the New Jersey Republican Party.

Republicans say that an affordability crisis, soaring taxes and skyrocketing energy costs are contributing to record-level outmigration. Murphy’s administration is also marked by the implementation of a school funding formula that led to drastic cuts to many public school districts, in some cases resulting in school closures throughout the state while increasing local property taxes.

“Under this administration, policies supported by Democrats in Trenton have made New Jersey less affordable for our residents,” Chairwoman Hanlon said.

“The Governor claims New Jersey is stronger and fairer, but the question remains: for whom?,” said New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco. “The state budget has grown by $22 billion. Property taxes are up by more than $10,000 on average. Unemployment taxes are up. Payroll taxes are increasing, and more and more New Jerseyans are living paycheck to paycheck. Homelessness is rising, affordability is slipping further out of reach, and these should be flashing warning signs for anyone paying attention.”

“Instead, in the final hours of this administration, the Governor and legislative Democrats pushed through another $128 million in new spending on top of a budget that already carries a $4 billion structural deficit. The impacts of this reckless spending will not disappear; it will land squarely on the backs of New Jersey taxpayers,” said Senator Bucco.

Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio pushed back on what Murphy portrayed as eight years of success.

“The reality is, if you want to lay out a legacy, people are going to remember him a lot differently than he sees it,” Assemblyman DiMaio said

“Going forward, Republicans will continue fighting to restore the American dream for all New Jerseyans and make our state a better place to live, work and raise a family,” said Chairwoman Hanlon, who took the helm of the NJGOP earlier this month with a plan to strengthen and expand the party.

About the NJGOP

The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the official entity of the Republican National Committee and represents more than 1.6 million Republicans registered in New Jersey.

For more information, visit NJGOP.org.

TRENTON, New Jersey—Christine Giordano Hanlon, Monmouth County Clerk and Co-Chair of the Monmouth County Republican Organization, was elected as the new Chair of the New Jersey Republican Party. The vote by 42 State Committee members took place on January 5th during their meeting at the Hibernian Club in Hamilton.

“I look forward to working side-by-side with all members of the Republican State Committee, our Party leaders and our countless dedicated volunteers and supporters to get right to work and create a strong organization that wins elections up and down the ballot,” said Chairwoman Hanlon.

Hanlon will focus on strengthening the organization, improving outreach and communications, leveraging education and training, boosting fundraising, bolstering voter engagement and protecting election integrity.

“As Chair, I will focus on building a strong organization that is vibrant, constantly growing and committed to winning based on my experience in politics and government,” she said. “I started on my journey in politics in New Jersey many years ago volunteering for a local campaign. From that time, I have served in various roles supporting our party candidates including municipal chair and club president for my hometown, grass roots organizer, campaign coordinator for various campaigns, state committeewoman and commissioner of the board of elections for my county and co-chair of my county Republican party.”

Hanlon, who won her third term as Monmouth County Clerk in the 2025 General Election, has experience in fundraising and strategizing campaigns for candidates on federal, state and local levels. She is also an expert on election integrity issues, having served for five years as a Commissioner on the Board of Elections in Monmouth County. Prior to assuming her role as Monmouth County Clerk, she was a practicing attorney for more than 20 years, focusing most recently on government affairs and municipal law.

One of Hanlon’s top priorities will be to bring unity to the party. “It is now more important than ever before to have a strong and unified Republican Party,” Chairwoman Hanlon said. “We need to come together to work for the betterment for the New Jersey Republican Party and the people of New Jersey.”

Fox News

By Glenn Paulsen

GOP candidate challenges Democrat on defense stock trades, spending spikes under Murphy administration

From the start, New Jersey Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill tried to have it both ways. She voted for the Charlie Kirk resolution and then trashed him in a press release hours later. That is not courage. That is cowardice. And it proves she is unfit for higher office.  

When New Jersey GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli confronted her with the facts, Sherrill had no answers. She hid behind cheap shots and outright lies. Her central attack, that Ciattarelli would raise the sales tax to 10%, collapsed on stage. He flatly stated he would not raise the sales tax or any tax. But when asked point-blank to promise she would not raise sales, income or property taxes, Sherrill refused. She actually said she “would not commit.” In plain English: she is leaving the door wide open to hiking your taxes, and you can bet she will, just like Democrat Governor Phil Murphy.  

She lied about trading defense stocks while on the House Armed Services Committee. She tripled her net worth, pocketing $7 million in profits, and was even fined for breaking federal law. When questioned, she denied it and pretended she did not know she made the money. Give me a break.  

On immigration, she ducked and weaved, refusing to answer questions on New Jersey’s sanctuary-state policies. On education, she doubled down on her plan to force “regionalization,” busing kids out of their neighborhoods. Families want strong schools in their own communities.

On energy, Sherrill pushed a gimmick so bad even Murphy called it unworkable: a “rate freeze” with zero details. Meanwhile, she backed the green mandates that sent rates soaring, saying it would “cost you an arm and a leg, but if you are a good person, you’ll do it.” Insulting does not begin to cover it.

On the budget, she was exposed again. Under Murphy, spending exploded from $35 billion to $59 billion, and Sherrill rubber-stamped every dime. She has never lifted a finger to cut spending, shrink government, or stand up for taxpayers. She has voted with President Joe Biden and Murphy every single time. If you want more Washington-Trenton machine politics, she is your candidate.

And then there is the cheating scandal. Sherrill constantly demands “transparency” from others, but when asked to come clean on her own record, she hides. She lied by omission, built her political career on that lie, and now refuses to release her records. She calls for “the most transparent government ever” while covering up her and her husband’s mess. If there is nothing to hide, why not release the records?

The debate made it clear: Mikie Sherrill is not just another politician. She is the worst kind, a Washington hypocrite who dodges when it suits her, lies when she is cornered, and will sell out New Jersey taxpayers every time.

Jack Ciattarelli, on the other hand, showed strength, clarity and specifics. He told the truth. He gave straight answers. And he proved he is ready to fight for New Jersey families from day one.

For decades, Democrats like Sherrill have run Trenton into the ground with Washington calling the shots. The result has been higher taxes, reckless spending, businesses and families fleeing and no accountability.

Sherrill did not just defend that failure; she owned it. The contrast could not be clearer.  

New Jersey deserves better. Jack Ciattarelli is ready to deliver. It’s time.

Glenn Paulsen is chairman of the New Jersey Republican Party.

TRENTON, NJ — Ahead of the Democratic primary, Ras Baraka was highly critical of Mikie Sherrill, citing serious policy disagreements and raising concerns with her record. Mikie Sherrill didn’t just accept Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s endorsement today; she embraced his unapologetically radical, far-left agenda for New Jersey – just like she did by endorsing socialist Zohran Mandani in New York City.

That reversal demands accountability. For the integrity of elections, voters deserve straight answers on whether Sherrill now also embraces Baraka’s radical agenda and rhetoric. We know where Ras Baraka stands–where does Mikie Sherrill stand?

Questions Mikie Sherrill Can’t Dodge Any Longer:

1. Policy Concessions:
   
   • What policy concessions did Sherrill make to secure Ras’s endorsement?
     
   • If none, why is Ras abandoning the very disagreements he once said were disqualifying?
     
2. Universal Basic Income (UBI):
   
   • Baraka’s Newark pilot gave residents up to $500/month and scaling it statewide could cost nearly $14 billion annually.
     
   • Does Sherrill support Baraka’s UBI scheme and the crushing tax hikes it would impose on New Jersey families?

3. Reparations:
   
   • Baraka has pushed for slavery reparations — a proposal that has failed to gain traction in Trenton, even under full Democratic control of the legislature and governor’s office.
     
   • Does Sherrill back Baraka’s call for reparations, or will she tell voters she opposes it?
     
4. Tax Hikes on Businesses:
   
   • Baraka has pushed for a 2.5% corporate surtax on top of the nation’s highest corporate tax rate.
     
   • Does Sherrill support his plan to punish businesses and drive more jobs out of New Jersey?
     
5. Louis Farrakhan Praise:
   
   • Baraka once hailed Farrakhan as a “role model” despite his antisemitic and violent rhetoric. He has refused to denounce him.
     
   • Will Sherrill denounce Farrakhan’s hate-filled rhetoric and Baraka’s refusal to do the same, or stay silent?
     

The Bottom Line:
Mikie Sherrill didn’t just accept Ras Baraka’s endorsement, she embraced his radical record by standing with him on the campaign trail today. Reporters have a duty to press her on whether she shares his agenda, or whether this alliance is pure political expediency at the expense of New Jersey voters.