Assemblyman slows N.J. gubernatorial campaign, lieutenant governor begins hers

One Republican candidate for governor of New Jersey is scaling back his campaign. Another is just getting into the race.

Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is planning to limit his campaign appearances to two or three days a week because of side effects from radiation therapy after surgery for throat cancer.

“I thought I would be one of those people who would get through radiation therapy entirely without feeling the most significant aspect of those side effect challenges,” he said Thursday. “I’m not.”

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno has filed papers to enter the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

Ciattarelli said he isn’t worried that his modified campaign schedule will hurt his chances of defeating her.

“I just saw her in the hallways and said I got a four-month head start on you. You might be able to pick some ground on me in the next month,” said Ciattarelli, R-Somerset. “But come February we’re both going to be out there pounding away.”

Ciattarelli expects to make a complete recovery and get back to full campaign schedule by mid-February. And Guadagno is expected to formally announce her candidacy Tuesday.

On the Democratic side, Phil Murphy, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany and former Goldman Sachs executive, is considered the front-runner.

The primary elections are set for June 6.