Razi: Spadea's campaign, Gilmore's tactics betray NJ conservatives
CJN's newest contributor Sara Razi exposes the Spadea campaign's intimate relationship with George Gilmore and Chris Christie, and its betrayal of New Jersey's conservatives.
For over a decade, New Jersey has faced mounting challenges—rising taxes, overregulation, mismanaged fiscal policies, immigration issues, and the lingering effects of the pandemic. Yet, despite these struggles, the NJGOP has failed to build a strong counter-narrative against the Democratic establishment. Instead of uniting around core conservative principles, Republicans have been unable to distinguish between holding their own accountable and engaging in destructive infighting.
Three truths remain unchanged:
1. A group of people who are not accountable to anyone should not be trusted by anyone.
2. Power without accountability invites corruption and self-interest
3. Only those who do not seek power for personal gain are truly qualified to hold it. From Conservative Principles to Political Opportunism
In 2022, the key figures that are now behind Bill Spadea’s Gubernatorial Campaign were once staunch defenders of conservative values. During Phil Rizzo’s congressional run, I served as Field Director, working to expose Tom Kean Jr.’s progressive voting record through targeted mailers, door hangers, and a website, realtomkean.com. This effort flipped thousands of voters and secured nearly 12,000 votes, placing second behind Kean.
However, these same individuals—once committed to exposing corruption—are now backing a candidate, Bill Spadea, who has hired Chris Christie aides to shape his platform, remains inconsistent on immigration and Trump, and has deceived candidates across New Jersey with false promises of financial support. Instead, these funds were funneled to George Gilmore, a key political insider and Senior Advisor to Elect Common-Sense PAC.
“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.”
-Thomas Paine
Who is George Gilmore?
Tax felon (lest we forget) George Gilmore is not just the Ocean County GOP chairman, he’s also a senior advisor to Optimus Partners, a Democratic lobbying firm led by Jeff Michaels and Phil Norcross, brother of Democratic power broker George Norcross. These connections have long stifled Republican progress in South Jersey, allowing Democratic influence to remain unchecked. Gilmore’s background raises major concerns:
1. Senior Advisor at a Democratic Lobbying Firm – Optimus Partners, run by Phil Norcross.
2. Connected to Democratic Power Structures – Served on the board of 1868 Public Affairs alongside Democrat Leroy Jones.
3. Tied to Chris Christie’s Establishment – Played a role in Christie’s transition team as Chairman of the Agricultural Subcommittee.
4. Power Consolidation – Simultaneously serves as Chairman of the Ocean County GOP, Chairman of Bill Spadea’s gubernatorial campaign, and Senior Advisor of Elect Common-Sense PAC.
A Massive Conflict of Interest
In 2023, Bill Spadea’s PAC, Elect Common Sense was launched, with promises to support conservative candidates with grassroots and financial backing. However roughly only 7% of its funds was given to local candidates. Instead, majority of the funds was given to George Gilmore and former Chris Christie aide, Bill Stepien. With Gilmore’s daily involvement in Spadea’s campaign and PAC, his deep ties to Democratic lobbyists should raise alarm bells for anyone expecting a genuine conservative movement.
Spadea’s Backstabbing: Abandoning Conservative Values
Bill Spadea built his reputation by claiming to fight corruption, yet his campaign is deeply entrenched with the very political insiders he once criticized. His ties to Gilmore, Christie’s inner circle, and other establishment figures reveal the truth:
Chris Christie’s Influence: Stepien and Gilmore, both Chris Christie allies, are major beneficiaries of Spadea’s campaign funds
Parental Rights Betrayal: Spadea turned his back on his strongest base by endorsing Senator Jon Bramnick for re-election in 2023, a politician who cosponsored the Freedom to Read Bill
Therefore, Bill Spadea sold out his principles the moment he decided to turn on conservatives and hire consultants who do not represent conservatism in New Jersey. Isn’t this the type of corruption Bill Spadea preaches that he stands against? Isn’t this the textbook definition of hypocrisy? What conservative values does Bill Spadea actually stand for and believe in as he allies himself with Chris Christie advisors, and anti-parental rights Senators like Senator Jon Bramnick?
So why did Bill Spadea align himself with George Gilmore?
The answer lies in, FOG- Fear, Obligation, and Guilt
1. Fear: From losing another race and fading into political irrelevance
2. Obligation: to spend more than $100,000 on Chris Christie affiliated insiders like George Gilmore and Bill Stepien.
3. Guilt: over past political failures, including Phil Rizzo’s unsuccessful gubernatorial and congressional campaigns.
The truth is, those running Spadea’s campaign once had the courage to challenge New Jersey’s most corrupt politicians. Now, they lack the ability to win without selling out to political insiders linked to Democratic power brokers like George and Phil Norcross.
Lobbyists shape policy and control access to power. Gilmore’s close ties to Democratic operatives raise an important question: Is Spadea’s campaign a Trojan horse designed to fail in the general election? Phil and George Norcross have endorsed Democrat Steve Sweeney for Governor, If Spadea wins the GOP nomination, Gilmore’s influence could ensure the general election is handed to Democrats—protecting their interests while paying off his own IRS fines.
If Republicans lose this race and fail to gain a legislative majority by 2026, the consequences will be catastrophic:
• No tax relief
• No protection for parental rights
• No rollback of burdensome regulations
• No effort to make New Jersey affordable again
Meanwhile, those orchestrating Spadea’s PAC and have already secured their escape plan— buying property in Tennessee, far from the struggles of everyday New Jerseyans.
The Path Forward: Holding Our Own Accountable:
No candidate in this race is perfect, but Bill Spadea is undeniably the most inconsistent and compromised. Can conservatives trust a candidate who:
• Lied to hundreds of candidates across NJ?
• Redirected campaign funds to George Gilmore instead of grassroots efforts? • Paid himself $65,000 from his own nonprofit?
New Jersey Republicans must wake up to the reality that no one is coming to save them. Until we hold our own accountable, the state will continue to suffer under Democratic control. The corruption within the conservative movement is a cancer, and attacking fellow Republicans over candidate loyalty only feeds the very system that is destroying the party.
This is exactly what Democratic lobbyists want—and why they have their hands deep in Bill Spadea’s campaign.
I urge gubernatorial candidates Jack Ciattarelli, Ed Durr, and Mario Kranjac to unite and hold Bill Spadea, George Gilmore, and Elect Common-Sense PAC accountable for the damage they are doing to the conservative movement in New Jersey. These individuals cannot be trusted—they have sold out the party for personal and political gain. The time to fight back is now. Strengthening the NJGOP requires standing up to political frauds, demanding accountability, and restoring integrity to our movement.
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Sara Razi is an award-winning medical freedom activist and the former New Jersey State Chair of Young Americans for Liberty (YAL). While at Rutgers University, Razi became a prominent leader in opposing COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates, organizing rallies and petitions that drew significant attention. She also spearheaded the formation of the largest conservative and libertarian coalition on campus, bringing together Rutgers YAL and Rutgers TPUSA.
Known for her leadership, public speaking, recruitment strategies, grassroots organizing, and coalition-building, Sara has made a lasting impact in both political and community spheres. Beyond politics, she has experience as a Real Estate Law Executive Assistant for over two years and is currently a Realtor Associate and a Marketing Specialist, and member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR)
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Christie and Spadea, perfect gogether
Hey Sara, how we can publish on central newjersey site?