One of the most significant labor unions in New Jersey shifted its allegiance from the Democrats on Thursday by choosing to endorse Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee for governor backed by Trump.
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 (IUOE), representing over 8,000 heavy equipment operators in the Garden State, commended Ciattarelli as a candidate for change after previously supporting incumbent Governor Phil Murphy, who is limited to one term.
“New Jersey is at a pivotal moment. We are confronted with an energy crisis, an affordability crisis, and a crisis of common sense. The solutions are straightforward but may not be politically favorable,” stated the union’s business manager, Greg Lalevee. “We require a Governor who will confront our challenges and not yield to extreme political factions. Jack Ciattarelli comprehends New Jersey and what must be accomplished to restore our great state.”
Lalevee highlighted Ciattarelli’s readiness to generate jobs by endorsing projects related to natural gas and criticized Democrat candidate Mikie Sherrill for relying on solar energy as a remedy for the state’s energy requirements. “The idea that we can achieve this without natural gas is ludicrous,” Lalevee remarked to the New Jersey Globe. “We cannot reach our goals solely through solar. That is unfeasible.”
The union leader expressed strong disapproval of the state’s performance regarding alternative energy initiatives, which have cost taxpayers billions. In 2023, the Denmark-based offshore wind company canceled its Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects off the New Jersey coast. This cancellation came after months of financial difficulties for the company and the offshore wind sector overall, which has faced criticism from both environmentalists and fossil fuel proponents.
Lalevee expressed strong disapproval towards environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, for their endorsement of Sherrill. “They kick, scream, lie, cry, stomp their feet, hold their breath, and the politicians wilt as they don’t offer solutions,” remarked the union leader.
Ciattarelli, who narrowly lost to Murphy in 2021 despite polling averages indicating a double-digit defeat, has committed to replacing current members and senior staff at the Board of Public Utilities. This initiative is expected to be positively received by the IUOE, Lalevee informed the New Jersey Globe.
“New Jersey possesses the highest mileage of replaceable pipe in the U.S., and the BPU requests utility companies to reduce them,” he stated. “We require a strong economy.”
In what may be interpreted as a broader trend within the national political arena, as several significant unions that have traditionally supported Democrats are now backing the Trump Administration’s policies, Lalevee indicated that Ciattarelli can anticipate additional endorsements from organized labor in the near future.
“There are compelling statistics that illustrate why building trades should adopt this direction,” Lalevee asserted. He further noted that Ciattarelli’s stance on immigration is likely to resonate with blue-collar union members, and highlighted that President Donald Trump recently instructed federal agencies to uphold union project labor agreements.
