Former top advisors to Donald Trump have formed a new super PAC aimed at cutting off Bill Spadea’s ability to expand his coalition heading into the 2025 GOP gubernatorial primary, a move that potentially boosts the electoral prospects of Jack Ciattarelli.
Kitchen Table Conservatives will include Kellyanne Conway, a Bergen County resident who served as Trump’s 2016 campaign manager and White House advisor, and Larry Weitzner, a New Jersey native who was the lead ad maker for Trump’s 2016 and 2020 presidential races.
The super PAC pits two former Trump campaign managers against each other in next year’s governor’s race: New Jerseyan Bill Stepien, a former White House political director and Trump’s 2020 campaign manager, is Spadea’s chief strategist.
In addition to Conway and Weitzner, the Kitchen Table Conservatives team includes veteran GOP operative Carlos Cruz, an executive at Weitzner’s firm, Jamestown Associates, and Vice President Mike Pence’s former press secretary, Katie Miller. Weitzner, who has been around New Jersey politics for four decades, worked on Ciattarelli’s 2021 campaign and is viewed as one of the go-to media consultants for high-profile statewide and House campaigns; Stepien is also on that list.
The super PAC board includes former Atlantic County GOP Chairman Keith Davis, Republican power lawyer Gail Gordon, and Kate Gibbs, a former Burlington County Freeholder and now a top executive at Operating Engineers Local 825.
Their first digital ad will go up tomorrow, with a clip of Spadea criticizing Trump. The ad includes photos of Spadea and the former president, with graphics saying, “Spadea attacks Trump. He’s not MAGA – just a phony.”
“You know, people give Trump a lot of credit for going after the deep state. The reality is he didn’t. He failed,” Spadea says. “And I’ve said this over and over again. Now, forget about your position on Donald Trump now, but he failed.”
Spadea addressed the super PAC on his radio show this morning.
“People behind this super PAC dark money group are attacking me because they are truly afraid of you. You are the ones who power this show. You’re the ones who power this movement. Your calls, your anger, your suggestions, your ideas, and most of all, your passion. You are the power, not me. Honestly, I’m along for the ride. I’m here to help. But this is your movement,” Spadea said. “So this attack. Honestly, it’s not an attack on me. It’s an attack on you. And most of all, it’s an attack on what you represent. Because you’re not just listeners. You are leaders of a very important and special movement. And this movement scares the hell out of these guys running for governor and the big super PAC, dark money groups that support them.”
In a statement, Kitchen Table Conservatives said it will “actively play a role in New Jersey, aiming to distinguish true conservatives from those who merely claim the label.”
The super PAC says it “stands firm in its dedication to promoting authentic conservatism-secure borders, lower taxes and less government.”
“The organization recognizes the importance of ensuring voters have a clear understanding of candidates’ values, particularly as some individuals attempt to identify as conservatives while espousing views contrary to conservatism’s core principles,” the group said.
Kitchen Table Conservatives pledged to recognize the “diversity of opinions within the conservative movement, but emphasizes the importance of a united front when it comes to core conservative values.”
“The organization remains committed to promoting candidates who align with these values, irrespective of individual opinions on specific political figures.” The super PAC stated.
The lone announced Republican candidate is State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), a moderate and Trump critic. Weitzner was part of Fix NJ, a pro-Ciattarelli group, in 2021, and also worked with the Republican Governors Association.
Conaway and Weitzner are not part of Trump’s 2024 campaign. Weitzner’s participation in the super PAC appears to preclude him from serving as Ciattarelli’s media consultant again.
Spadea, the host of NJ 101.5’s morning drive-time radio show, and Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman who came within three percentage points of unseated Gov. Phil Murphy three years ago, are both expected to join the race.