ELIZABETH - Jack Ciattarelli was in the middle of one of his campaign "town halls" Friday evening when Jamel Holley spoke up from the audience.

Holley is a former local Assemblyman from District 20 and a Democrat, but he's backing Ciattarelli, a Republican, for governor.

And he explained why, telling a hundred or so people assembled in the Bar Code entertainment center precisely this:

Ciattarelli is more than mere talk. He has a plan, a solid plan, for New Jersey.

"This is the right way forward," he said as a beaming Ciattarelli looked on.

Ciattarelli prides himself on going to places where Republicans do not usually go.

This city is one such place.

In 2021, Ciattarelli lost here to Phil Murphy by more than 5,000 votes.

Still, the city is very Latino and Ciattarelli is buoyed by the fact many more Latinos voted Republican in 2024 than they did in 2020.

The GOP candidate often speaks about his Italian ancestors coming to New Jersey and building a new life.

He said today's Latino immigrants remind him of his family.

He said they work hard, go to church and provide for their loved ones.

Ciattarelli pledged to honor the state's diversity as governor by going to two, different houses of worship every month.

Politically, minority groups have leaned Democratic for a long time. Ciattarelli says that may be changing, because the Dems have begun taking black and Latino voters for granted.

"When you're taken for granted, that's exploitation," he said.

The venue - a full-fledged night club - was an interesting one for a political rally. Ciattarelli spoke on what appeared to be a dance floor.

The owner, Edwin Gomez, said that when he first met Ciattarelli, the candidate spent about two hours talking to him about his plans for the state. Gomez was sold, and now here he was hosting a town hall for "Jack."

"I know what the hell is going on. I know what is broken and I know how to fix it," Ciattarelli said.

Polls can be stubborn things, and three polls this week gave Mikie Sherrill an average lead of 6 points.

Ciattarelli isn't buying it.

Talking to reporters, he said polls four years ago had him way behind and he lost by only 3 points.

"What I believe is what I feel each and every day when I'm out there in the community. And compared to '21, this time around, the electricity is off the charts."