Surprise Arrival: Army Captain Joins Father’s Campaign in Last-Minute Move

Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli’s son, Army Capt. Jake, returned home from Kuwait to surprise his father Monday as New Jersey’s governor’s race intensified ahead of its final days.

Ciattarelli was speaking to supporters at Murph’s Tavern in Totowa when Passaic County Republican Chairman Peter Murphy interrupted the event. “You don’t know what I’m going to say right now, but your biggest supporter who serves his country just came over overnight to serve you,” Murphy said, according to the New York Post.

Ciattarelli appeared confused as the room erupted in cheers and chants of “USA” when Jake, clad in his Army uniform, approached him for a heartfelt hug. The GOP candidate quipped about his son’s return, joking, “Now let me guess: You called the president yesterday. He sent Air Force One over to Kuwait and picked up Jake.” He added, “What he probably forgot to do because he’s been so busy defending our nation, he probably forgot to get in his vote-by-mail ballot. He’s here to vote.”

Jake later told reporters he plans to stay in the U.S. to support his father through Thursday. Ciattarelli has referenced his son’s military service during the campaign, including posting an Instagram photo of him near a “New Jersey Ave” sign in the Middle East.

Ciattarelli’s Monday schedule included a tele-rally with President Donald Trump and events in Neptune City and Raritan. He trails Democrat rival Rep. Mikie Sherrill by 3.3 percentage points in the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate, making the race one of the closest in state history.