Jon Bramnick Skips GOP County Conventions, Focuses on Direct Voter Outreach

Jon Bramnick, a Republican state senator and candidate for governor in New Jersey, has announced that he will not participate in the GOP county conventions this year.

These conventions are where local Republican leaders endorse candidates and decide ballot positions.

Bramnick has chosen to focus instead on reaching Republican voters directly, believing this is a better way to represent the broader Republican electorate.

The decision comes as other candidates, like Bill Spadea and Edward Durr, have also decided to skip the conventions.

Bramnick explained that with several candidates withdrawing from the conventions and fewer candidates participating, the process would no longer accurately represent the overall Republican primary.

Instead, his campaign is centered on increasing voter turnout.

In 2021, fewer than 24% of registered Republicans voted in the gubernatorial primary. Bramnick sees this as a key issue and aims to encourage more Republicans to participate in the upcoming primary on June 10.

Meanwhile, another Republican candidate, Jack Ciattarelli, is fully engaged in the traditional convention process.

Ciattarelli recently earned the endorsement of the Cape May County Republican Committee.

The endorsement came during a meeting at Cape Square Theaters in Rio Grande, Middle Township, attended by many Republican committee members and supporters.

Cape May GOP Chairman Mike Donohue praised Ciattarelli for respecting the convention process and connecting with voters in southern New Jersey.

Ciattarelli has focused on economic issues, promising to create a government efficiency office to reduce state spending and help families and small businesses.

He has also opposed offshore wind projects and called for more realistic affordable housing policies.

Donohue criticized candidates who skipped the conventions, saying they disrespected the party’s traditions and the hard work of committee members and volunteers who formed the GOP’s foundation.

Although Bramnick has opted out of the conventions, his running mates, Assemblywomen Nancy Munoz and Michele Matsikoudis, will participate in the Union County GOP convention.

This could result in them sharing a ballot slogan with one of Bramnick’s competitors, likely Ciattarelli.

On the Democratic side, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has also decided not to participate in county conventions.

Other Democratic candidates include Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, and former Senate President Stephen Sweeney.

These choices show a bigger change in how candidates plan their campaigns as they consider whether conventions still matter in modern campaigns.

The upcoming primary on June 10 will test these different approaches.

Ciattarelli is sticking to the traditional route by securing endorsements and building support within the GOP’s established system.

Bramnick, on the other hand, is focusing on direct voter outreach to energize the Republican base.