MOUNTAIN LAKES, New Jersey — New Jersey Republicans are confident they will win the gubernatorial race this year after the state GOP came within three points of doing so the last go-round

Both sides of the aisle have open, crowded primaries, but Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker and three-time gubernatorial candidate, is emerging as a top contender for the GOP side. In the 2021 gubernatorial race, Ciattarelli came within three points of making Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) a one-term governor.