STIRLING - "All gas. No brake."

That's how Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli described his post-Labor Day campaign for Governor at a well-attended and energized stop here at Biagio's on Main Street. The Ciattarelli Campaign on Friday released a schedule of his weekend events, revealing the candidate's penchant for personally reaching out to as many voters as possible.

A day after a new Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report showed meager post-President Donald Trump tariff job growth, Ciattarelli - on record in support of the tariffs and running with the backing of Trump, told InsiderNJ, "They're not going to have the impact that people think. More than anything it's a big negotiation."

Making his way through the crowd with Ciattarelli, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon reminded people about the ticket's law enforcement commitment. But mayors like Paterson's Andre Sayegh oppose the deployment of National Guard troops in New Jersey cities, a threat over urban America dangled by Trump after the President cracked down on Washington, D.C.

"My job, the job of any public official, is public safety first," Ciattarelli told InsiderNJ. "You need to do what you need to do. What we saw last week in Secaucus was very disturbing. But the President will never have to worry about sending the National Guard to New Jersey because I'll take care of it."

In his stump speech to supporters (see below), the Republican zapped his opponent, Democrat Mikie Sherrill, for spending too much time talking about Trump and not enough time focused on New Jersey issues.

"We pay the highest taxes in the country, we have the highest electrical bills in the country and we're not supporting law enforcement," Ciattarelli said. "She is talking about the president and lying about my record."

For the record, Sherrill did say she would dump the sitting Board of Public Utilities if they do not expedite her reforms to lower utility costs. But Ciattarelli's objections to her candidacy go beyond energy costs.

Democrats have had power in New Jersey for eight years. It's time for a change, he argues.

His ally, state Senate Republican Leader Tony Bucco, Jr., (R-25), agrees.

"Voters want a more affordable state," Bucco told InsiderNJ. "They just want to be left alone out of Trenton. This administration has just done whatever they wanted and now you're seeing the results. They include higher energy costs, people stealing cars out of your driveway, a school funding formula that's completely broken. People are ready to make a change, and Jack provides a great vision for New Jersey."

Ciattarelli bases his promise to lower property taxes on the reform of the state's schools funding formula. He also wants to install a state attorney general who, in his words, backs law enforcement (see the FULL! speech below). Suburban Republicans packing the rooms of this popular downtown pastry shop see opportunities for Ciattarelli to pull larger than usual GOP numbers from Building Trades workers, Black males, and Latino voters. They appreciate his connectivity to other campaigns, especially legislative campaigns like that of incumbent Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis (R-21), who stood at the front of the room with her statewide ally.

"You're going to win," Ciattarelli told her.

The assemblywoman said she believes her party has fielded an impassioned and articulate candidate at the top of the ticket who knows the issues of his native state. Also convinced the GOP has a winner, one Republican did say Sherrill could end up swamping the Republican nominee with huge cash infusions, their one late-game concern, along with, of course, worries about Donald Trump volatility.

Editor's Note: In this video, Jack Ciattarelli makes the claim that his opponent, Mikie Sherrill, endorsed New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. She didn't. She said if he's the party nominee, she "assumes" she would support him, but she never did issue an official endorsement of the candidate and has since said she is focused on her New Jersey election, not New York.