Democratic NJ mayor endorses Ciattarelli, targets sanctuary policy
Dover Mayor James P. Dodd, a registered Democrat, told Fox News he is endorsing Republican Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey's 2025 governor’s race, citing rising taxes, retirement costs and what he called failures from Democratic candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill. Dodd said Ciattarelli pledged to end sanctuary‑city policies 'on day one,' urged letting local law enforcement cooperate with federal immigration authorities, and suggested he may switch parties — a development the campaign says reflects shifting voter sentiment in Dover.
Politics
Elections
Immigration
🔍 Key Facts
- Dover Mayor James P. Dodd (Democrat) publicly endorsed Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey governor’s race during a Fox News 'Fox & Friends First' interview.
- Dodd cited immigration policy — saying Ciattarelli promised to end sanctuary cities 'on day one' — plus concerns about taxes and state spending as reasons for crossing party lines.
- Dodd indicated he may switch his party registration and said Dover (a primarily Hispanic community) is seeing voters move toward Republicans; Ciattarelli is also endorsed by President Trump.
📍 Contextual Background
- New York City has sanctuary city status.
- Video footage captured an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer pushing a visibly upset Ecuadoran woman to the ground outside an immigration court at the 26 Federal Plaza building in Manhattan.
- The Department of Homeland Security released a statement saying the officer was being relieved of current duties while a full investigation was conducted and denouncing the officer's conduct as unacceptable.
- The Rapid Response Legal Collaborative had funding of $500,000 (as reported in the article).
- The New York Immigrant Family Unit Program had funding of $16,000,000 (as reported in the article).
- On 2025-09-26 Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced new, stricter rules for non-citizens to obtain commercial driver's licenses.
- Social Security benefits are funded through mandatory spending, meaning the program's funding is provided without an annual expiration and does not require yearly appropriations to continue benefit payments.