Garfield Mayor Everett E. Garnto, Jr., a Democrat, is set to announce his endorsement of Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli and is expected to switch parties. Garfield, the fifth-largest municipality in Bergen County, has seen shifting political dynamics. Four years ago, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy won Garfield by 151 votes, but in 2024, voters backed Donald Trump by nearly nine percentage points. The city, 77% White with 32% identifying as Hispanic, reflects a complex demographic landscape.

Garnto, a former school board member and president of the Garfield Police Benevolent Association Local 46, was elected to the council in 2024. Despite local tradition favoring the candidate with the most votes, his colleagues selected him as mayor. The Democratic nominee, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, placed third in the June primary with 22.2%, while Newark Mayor Ras Baraka led Rep. Josh Gottheimer with 28.9% to 22.4%.

Ciattarelli has gained support from several Democratic officials, including Dover Mayor James P. Dodd and Jamel Holley, a former State Assembly member and Roselle mayor. Ciattarelli questioned the shift, asking, “Don’t believe people have had it with Murphy & Mikie’s failed policies? Then why are Democratic mayors endorsing me — and even switching parties?” He emphasized New Jersey’s need for change, stating, “When I’m Governor, we will deliver just that.”

Garfield, a city of about 32,000 residents, has traditionally leaned Democratic but now shows Republican trends in working-class areas, while affluent suburbs grow more Democratic. In 2021, Ciattarelli lost Garfield to Murphy by roughly 150 votes, but Trump won the district by 900 in 2023. Garnto’s move underscores a broader political realignment, though its impact on the race remains uncertain.