CHESTER - Jack Ciattarelli knows a lot about New Jersey diners.

Moving through the Chester Diner Tuesday afternoon, the Republican candidate for governor complimented the healthy choice of one of the diners - avocado toast.

None of this is coincidental. Ciattarelli spent much time visiting diners - New Jersey has hundreds and hundreds of them - when he ran in 2021. He's repeating the pattern this year with hopes for a better result.

"One more time," he said of his campaign. "We're going to get this one."

Ciattarelli sees an obvious benefit to dropping by diners.

People eating tend to be a captive audience, so he has a chance to introduce himself. He also gets to sample the concerns of average people - not the politically active folk one sees at campaign rallies.

The borough is in Morris County, and in true New Jersey fashion, it is surrounded by Chester Township. The county has gotten more competitive of late - Mikie Sherrill represents and wins the county's eastern half - but Chester and points west remain very Republican.

So, Ciattarelli got a friendly reception as he moved from table to table escorted by Mike Inganamort, a local GOP assemblyman. Many diners wanted to pose with him for photos.

But amid this, there were some "real" questions. One man asked if he was "with Trump?"

Ciattarelli replied:

"I've been endorsed by the president."

Later, he explained that his goal is to represent the "9.3 million people who live in New Jersey."

Abortion can be a tough issue for New Jersey Republicans, who know the basic facts. The party is pro-life, but the state is not.

A diner, who said he was pro-life asked Ciattarelli if he might alter his position if he gets elected.

The candidate replied that he opposes abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and that he supports parental notification.

Trump a while back condemned mail-in voting. With that in mind apparently, two women diners suggested that it be eliminated in New Jersey.

"Not going to happen," Ciattarelli said,

Dating back to his 2021 campaign, Ciattarelli has urged Republicans to vote early or by mail, thereby chipping away at the usual Democratic advantage.

But he did say that he backs voter-ID.

Another patron, Roy Smith of Long Valley, had geography - and a bit of history - in mind.

Like Ciattarelli, a Jersey native, Smith pointed out that the last two Democratic governors - Phil Murphy (Massachusetts) and Jon Corzine (Illinois) were born and raised out of state.

Sherrill was born in Virginia.

"Why are the Democrats bringing in all these folks from out of state?"

This point has been raised by Republicans as well. And it may be one reason Ciattarelli spends so much time in diners - a quintessential Jersey institution.

In fairness, Sherrill is an elected New Jersey official. She has represented CD-11 in the House since 2019.

As Ciattarelli made the rounds, a group of protesters assembled outside the diner. Included were Brian Varela, an announced Democratic candidate in CD-7, and Guy Citron, a Democratic Assembly candidate in LD-23.

They serenaded the GOP candidate with chants of "Mikie, Mikie" as he departed.

Ciattarelli wasn't phased by that, or by the refusal of Bill Spadea, who is now back on the air, to endorse him.

"We're just focused on November," he said.