When Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo stood up in a room in Newark last week at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield’s 85th Anniversary, he felt compelled to let the crowd know that he wouldn’t be supporting a Republican candidate for governor this year.

Having received push-back in his own party after endorsing Republican Governor Chris Christie in 2013, Democrat DiVincenzo last week jokingly made clear his intention not to back Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-16).

When he said that, he spoke within earshot of the GOP candidate for governor from Somerset County, who was also in attendance at the Horizon event.

DiVincenzo this year supports Democratic front-runner Phil Murphy.