New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, who hopes to end eight years of Democratic control, received a special November surprise Monday from his son.
Army Capt. Jake Ciattarelli joined his father in a warm embrace while the elder Ciattarelli was rallying voters at Murph’s Tavern, a sports bar in Totowa, New Jersey, ahead of Tuesday’s election.
🚨BIG SURPRISE GUEST: Jack’s son, Jake, straight from Kuwait! God Bless and thank you for your service. It’s time. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/TfrhyP7nwf
— Mike Inganamort (@MikeInganamort) November 3, 2025
“You don’t know what I’m going to say right now, but your biggest supporter who serves his country just came over overnight to serve you,” Passaic County Republican Chairman Peter Murphy said to introduce the mystery guest.
“Who’s here?” Mr. Ciattarelli replied.
His son approached in his camouflage combat uniform, and they embraced as supporters applauded and chanted “U.S.A.!”
The homecoming was unexpected for the Republican nominee, who is in a tight race with his Democratic opponent, Rep. Mikie Sherrill.
“Jake and his friends planned it,” said a source within the campaign. “A very small circle inside the campaign knew about it.”
The source said Mr. Ciattarelli “was completely in the dark and surprised” when his son showed up the stage. “He had no clue until Jake walked in the door. Great moment.”
Jake Ciattarelli, a logistics officer who has been stationed in Kuwait, was not due to return home to the Garden State until early January.
His dad posted on social media Sept. 27 to say he was counting down the final 100 days.
Counting down the final 100 days until our son Jake comes home. Proud of our Army Captain every single day. pic.twitter.com/ln3fTM1qG3
— Jack Ciattarelli (@Jack4NJ) September 27, 2025
Capt. Ciattarelli previously factored into his father’s 2021 campaign against incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy.
In the aftermath of President Biden’s botched withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan that August, the elder Ciatterelli called the fiasco “both heartbreaking and maddening.”
A total of 13 service members and 169 Afghan civilians were killed in an Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing at the Kabul International Airport.
“Knowing that our son Jake, a Logistics Officer assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, and his brothers and sisters in arms, may one day be called to help clean up the mess makes it really hit home in a personal way,” Mr. Ciattarelli said in a statement about the Taliban takeover of the country.
