NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Ed the Trucker has exited the race for governor of New Jersey.
Former state Sen. Edward Durr says he didn’t raise enough money to qualify for the next debate. He also acknowledged he would struggle to get his message to people beyond those who already support him.
Durr said he didn’t want to split the MAGA vote and endorsed former radio host Bill Spadea for the Republican nomination. Spadea is running against former state Rep. Jack Ciattarelli, who is running a third time, and state Sen. Jon Bramnick.
Durr thanked his wife, kids and supporters and told everyone else he would see them on the trail.
“I am not going away,” Durr said. “I will continue to fight for our conservative values and then there are other races on the horizon.”
New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is term-limited and cannot run for a third time in this year’s contest, one of just two governorships up for election, along with Virginia.
Six prominent Democrats remain in the race for the June 10 New Jersey governor primary election.
Democrats have nearly one million more registered voters than Republicans in New Jersey, and while the state has been reliably blue during presidential elections and U.S. Senate races, the GOP has had luck winning in the odd-year races for governor, according to the Associated Press.