MAGA truck driver who toppled powerful Democrat drops bid for New Jersey governor

Ed Durr, the truck driver who landed one of the largest political upsets in New Jersey history by beating the state’s longest-serving Senate president, announced Monday that he will drop his bid for governor.

He immediately endorsed conservative former radio host Bill Spadea, who is one of the leading Republican candidates. Durr said he was dropping out because his campaign was not able to meet the threshold to qualify for matching funds under the state’s public financing programs.

“While there are two of us carrying the conservative message of the MAGA movement only one has the financial resources necessary to carry that message through to November,” Durr said in a statement. “I am ending my campaign so Bill Spadea can use all his campaign resources to defeat the two never-Trumpers in this race and carry a conservative message to November.”

Durr’s departure sets up what is likely a two-man race between Spadea and former Assemblymember Jack Ciattarelli, both of whom are trying to court President Donald Trump’s support. Over the weekend, Trump met with Ciattarelli and Spadea separately, according to social media posts and media reports — and the president’s decision to weigh in is viewed as make-or-break in the GOP primary. Another GOP candidate, state Sen. Jon Bramnick who is a frequent Trump critic, is also running.

A trucker from South Jersey, Durr catapulted to national attention after unexpectedly ousting then-Senate President Steve Sweeney in 2021. Beating Sweeney — who is now also a candidate for governor — briefly made Durr a political hero on the right: A MAGA trucker, on a shoestring budget, toppled one of the most powerful Democrats in New Jersey.

It was a rise to power that seemed made for Hollywood. Last spring, Durr entered the governor's race on the theory that he could launch a similar upset to take over the governor’s mansion — although it was ultimately not meant to be.

On nearly all fronts, Durr ran a campaign lacking structure. He severely lagged in fundraising — there is still no filing from the state's Election Law Enforcement Commission showing how much he raised, if anything. Durr cited his dearth of funds as the primary reason for dropping out.

“We will not qualify for matching funds,” Durr said in his statement. “Without matching funds we are out of the debates, making it difficult to get our message beyond those who already support this campaign.”

He also struggled to find a lane. Spadea is courting the most conservative parts of the Republican party — who would appear to be among Durr’s base of supporters. And while support for Trump has become the paramount focus in the GOP primary for governor, Durr — who is an ardent Trump supporter — said that his campaign was not Trump-centric and that he was focused on affordability.

“I think there needs to be more substance behind the candidates than just saying you’re for Trump,” Durr told POLITICO earlier this year.

Some of Durr’s campaign promises would have been nearly impossible to fulfill, like eliminating the state’s sales tax as well as property taxes for homeowners.

But on the campaign trail — and as a state senator — he carried an Everyman appeal. He remained a full-time truck driver while running for governor, often doing interviews and social media videos while trucking.

“I think he talks like a real person,” Bramnick said in an interview. “I actually like him — I don't agree with him on everything. But I like him.”

After ousting Sweeney in the 2021 election, Durr became a minor celebrity among Republicans, doing the interview circuit on conservative media and even getting a phone call from Trump. Durr said he ran for office because he could not get a gun carry permit.

But his fame fizzled out once he entered Trenton — as well as his perceived power. He proposed conservative measures like scaling back New Jersey’s strict gun laws and abortion rights, although none of his bills became law. He also became something of a pariah among his fellow Republicans. After his upset victory, some of Durr’s old online comments resurfaced that became politically damaging, such as “A woman does have a choice! Keep her legs closed.”

While Durr represented a district that Trump won, he was ousted in the 2023 election by South Jersey Democrats seeking to reclaim the Senate post in large part because of his old comments.

It is unclear what comes next for Durr’s political career. He is listed on the state’s campaign finance database as being a 2027 candidate for state Senate, although that does not necessarily mean he will run.

“Forever he’ll be the David that beat Goliath,” state Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco said in an interview. “People will always remember Ed the truck driver.”