New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli received an unexpected emotional moment during a campaign event at Murph’s Tavern in northern New Jersey. His son, Jake, a U.S. Army officer stationed in Kuwait, traveled overnight to attend the rally, catching his father off guard.

Passaic County Republican Chairman Peter Murphy introduced the visit, stating, “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.” The crowd erupted in cheers and chants of “USA” as Ciattarelli embraced Jake.

Ciattarelli humorously remarked on his son’s sudden appearance, joking, “Now let me guess, you called the president yesterday. He sent Air Force One over to Kuwait and picked up Jack.” He also noted Jake’s plans to vote in the upcoming election, quipping, “He probably forgot to get in his vote-by-mail ballot. He’s here to vote.”

Jake, a captain in the Army since late 2023, intended to stay in New Jersey through Thursday to support his father. Ciattarelli has previously shared photos of Jake during his service, including one featuring him pointing to a “New Jersey Ave” sign in the Middle East.

The gubernatorial race remains tightly contested between Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill. While polls suggest Sherrill holds a 5-point lead, Ciattarelli claims his internal polling shows a dead heat. Early voting has seen record participation, with over 600,000 voters casting ballots—tripling the 2021 total.

The outcome hinges on voter turnout in urban Democratic strongholds and the performance of Republican base areas. Meanwhile, Passaic County faces scrutiny after the federal Department of Justice agreed to monitor mail-in ballot procedures amid concerns over potential fraud. Democrats have criticized the move as an effort to suppress votes.