Top Union Sticks Dagger In Democratic Party’s Back As New Jersey Gov Race Heats Up

One of New Jersey’s most influential unions broke ranks Thursday, endorsing Republican Jack Ciattarelli for governor over Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill.

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, which represents some 8,000 heavy equipment operators, endorsed Ciattarelli as an antidote to the “crisis of common sense” gripping New Jersey under Democratic leadership, citing high energy costs and what it views as an increasingly unworkable green agenda. (RELATED: Trump Pick To Face Dem Lawmaker In Key Governor’s Showdown)

“New Jersey is at a crossroads,” Greg Lalevee, the union’s business manager, told the New Jersey Globe. “We face an energy crisis, an affordability crisis and a crisis of common sense … We need a governor who will tackle our challenges and not cave to the fringe political voices. Jack Ciattarelli understands New Jersey and what needs to be done to fix our great state.”

The endorsement doubles as a revolt against Trenton’s floundering green energy record, particularly the failed “Ocean Wind” projects — two taxpayer-funded, Biden-backed initiatives that were abruptly scrapped after mounting financial problems.

“This endorsement shows that the working men and women of New Jersey want a return to common sense government — and that’s what they’ll get when I’m Governor, it’s time!” Ciattarelli’s campaign told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Local 825 did not respond to a request for comment.

The endorsement is a notable defection for the powerful state union, which backed Murphy over Ciattarelli in 2021. But Lalevee told the outlet his members were frustrated by the state Board of Public Utilities, which he accused of dragging its feet on pipeline replacements and stalling other infrastructure projects. He also took aim at environmental groups like the Sierra Club, which he said pressure lawmakers without offering viable alternatives for keeping the state running.

“New Jersey has the most mileage of replaceable pipe in the U.S., and the BPU asks utility companies to scale them down,” Lalevee said. “We need a robust economy.”

The move hands Ciattarelli a rare boost from organized labor in a state where union support has long defaulted to Democrats. It also highlights a growing fracture between climate-focused Democrats and trade unions that rely on natural gas and large-scale infrastructure development for work. (RELATED: ‘A Winner’: Trump Endorses Jack Ciattarelli In GOP Primary For New Jersey Gov)

Lalevee suggested more trades groups could follow Local 825’s lead, citing “powerful statistics about why building trades should go this way.”

Energy is shaping up to be a central flashpoint in 2025’s race. Sherrill has called for an aggressive transition to solar and offshore wind, doubling down on Murphy-era clean energy targets.

“We can’t tackle climate change and clean our air if we’re still tethered to yesterday’s fuels and technology,” Sherrill wrote in an NJBIZ op-ed, calling for “expanding community solar projects” instead. Sherrill’s campaign also didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Ciattarelli, meanwhile, is pitching a more gradual approach — one that includes bolstering natural gas infrastructure and fast-tracking further development.

“I’ll end Murphy’s radical energy agenda that’s driving up our electric bills in New Jersey,” Ciattarelli said in an April campaign ad. “It’s time to make our state affordable again.”

A mid-June internal poll from the Ciattarelli campaign showed him trailing Sherrill by just 3 points, 45% to 42%, the New Jersey Globe separately reported.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include comment from the Ciattarelli campaign.

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