Trenton, New Jersey. The endeavor by Republicans to turn New Jersey from hard blue to red has been largely unsuccessful. The state took a small step to the right this year, but the local initiative to save Jersey has essentially failed.
If the man who assisted President Donald Trump in flipping the Keystone State succeeds in flipping the Garden State, that might be different.
After the GOP’s impressive 2024 showing, Republican activist Scott Presler, who is recognized for having led Donald Trump to a decisive victory in Pennsylvania, is aiming for New Jersey, saying the historically Democratic state is ready for a political change.
The trend in New Jersey is to the right. Presler, 36, told The Post that there is momentum, pointing to Trump’s record victories in the Garden State. Gloucester, Morris, Passaic, Cumberland, and Atlantic counties—some of which had not supported the Republican Party for decades—were all overtaken by Trump. The best GOP outcome in New Jersey since George W. Bush’s reelection in 2004 was achieved by Trump, who defeated Vice President Kamala Harris by a margin of just six points.
As the first group to start organizing before the 2025 gubernatorial contest, Presler’s Early Vote Action PAC has already rehired 23 staffers in New Jersey and initiated a vigorous ground game. According to Presler, Early Vote Action already has people on the ground as of December 2024, promising a strong presence statewide, in contrast to Republican parties in the past who would pack up, go home, and not renew contracts.
Targeting a wide range of voter bases at truck stops, gun shows, fraternity houses, veterans organizations, and well-known public areas like the Wildwood Boardwalk, the group’s outreach activities are extensive. Presler’s statement, “You’re going to see us everywhere,” emphasized the GOP’s goal of winning over people who have grown weary of Democratic policies.
As Republicans vie for control of the governor’s mansion in 2025, Presler, a conservative activist who is out homosexual and well-known for his grassroots voter registration drives and early backing of Donald Trump, is stepping up his efforts in New Jersey. After the GOP’s huge 2024 wins, Presler, a divisive personality with connections to far-right movements, believes the historically Democratic state is ready for a political upheaval.
Raised by a U.S. Navy captain and born in the late 1980s, Presler attended George Mason University to study criminal justice before joining the Republican Party in 2015. His work as a field director for Trump’s 2016 campaign and his co-founding of the organization Gays for Trump brought him widespread prominence. Presler has recently concentrated on voter mobilization initiatives through his nonprofit, Early Vote Action, despite his contentious prior associations, which include work with the anti-Muslim organization ACT for America and involvement in Stop the Steal demonstrations.
In anticipation of the 2025 gubernatorial election, the group, which seeks to boost Republican voter turnout, has already placed workers in New Jersey. With a year-round plan to turn the Garden State around, Presler told The Post, “We’re not waiting until next year.” Presler intends to reach a wide range of people, including young conservatives, veterans, and proponents of gun rights.
Even though his strategies have come under fire, Presler has proven that he can inspire Republican voters. He was instrumental in encouraging voter turnout in Pennsylvania in 2024, which helped Trump win a crucial victory there. Community clean-ups and massive voter registration drives, like the one scheduled for Edison on December 11, are now part of his grassroots efforts.
Financial support from well-known allies, such as a $1 million donation from Elon Musk, highlights Presler’s increasing clout inside the GOP. Presler’s actions could influence the political climate in the run-up to the governor’s campaign next year, since Republicans are closing the gap in New Jersey during the 2024 election.
Early Vote Action hopes to expand on its success in Pennsylvania, where Presler helped flip important House seats and ensure Trump’s victory, with a $2.2 million war fund and a $1 million infusion from Trump backer Elon Musk earlier this year. Following the uproar around an American flag ban that has subsequently been lifted, Presler has also committed to a voter registration drive at Edison’s next council meeting on December 11.
Next year’s governor’s campaign, where Republican businessman Jack Ciattarelli, who narrowly lost to Democratic Governor Phil Murphy in 2021 by four points, is regarded as the GOP front-runner, will be the first significant test of Presler’s New Jersey efforts.
Presler’s expanding presence in New Jersey is indicative of a daring Republican plan to change the political climate in the state.
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