To learn more about Jay and his campaign, or to support him financially or otherwise, click here.
News2A: Why did you decide to get involved in politics?
Jay Costa: I’ve always been interested in politics, but with a successful career and a growing family to feed, I never envisioned myself entering into politics myself. That changed after the attempted assassination of President Trump on July 13, 2024. Like many Americans, I felt a profound sense of urgency and could no longer remain on the sidelines. My love for our country and state compelled me to run for County Commissioner in the place I’ve called home my entire life. Frankly, I just wanted to finally make a difference instead of what we all usually do, complain!
News2A: What are you seeing as the driving influence in the changing New Jersey voter demographic?
JC: New Jersey’s diversity in demographics, culture, and environment makes it an accurate microcosm of the nation. Over the past decade, we’ve seen a significant political shift. Working-class and blue-collar voters, including many from minority communities, are increasingly supporting the Republican Party. They feel taken advantage of by a political system that has dictated their vote without delivering the results. The conservative Republican message resonates as a unifying message, and is the best way forward for our state and our country.
News2A: What are the most important issues you’ve heard from your future constituents?
JC: The most pressing concerns I hear from constituents are:
- Cost of Living: Skyrocketing expenses make it difficult for families to thrive here.
- High Taxes: Decades of mismanagement from the Democrat party have burdened residents with excessive property taxes.
- Over-Development: Uncontrolled growth straining the infrastructure of our suburbs and erodes the character of our neighborhoods.
These issues stem from poor leadership by the Democrat-controlled county and state governments, which have failed to provide solutions, and in many cases, caused the problems in the first place.
News2A: As a YouTuber reaching millennials and Gen Z, what issues are the most important to the next generation?
JC: For millennials and Gen Z, affordability is the defining issue. The American Dream—homeownership and raising a family in a place like Bergen County—feels out of reach. My own parents bought a home in a Bergen County suburb in order to start a family at the age of 23. Today, young families simply cannot do that due to excessive costs. Bergen County has much to offer, but we must make it accessible for the next generation. This is one of the most important reasons that I decided to run for office.
News2A: Recent polls, such as the Neighborhood Research and Media survey, show Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill roughly tied in the race for governor. In your opinion, has the gubernatorial race had any impact on what is important to voters at the local level?
JC: The gubernatorial race between Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill highlights the same local concerns: affordability, high taxes, and over-development. Ciattarelli, a true Jersey guy, offers principled proposals to address these challenges. In contrast, Sherrill’s focus on President Trump sidesteps the real issues facing our state, like property taxes and utility costs. Voters in 2025 want solutions, not distractions. Jack’s ideas have not been tried in New Jersey for quite some time. Mikie’s ideas are what got us in this mess in the first place.
News2A: In a recent interview on the popular Gun for Hire Radio Podcast, you spoke about affordability issues. What can be done at the local level to address what has largely stemmed from irresponsibility in Trenton, in your view?
JC: Bergen County’s budget has ballooned to $720 million annually, up from $500 million a decade ago—This is clearly unsustainable and is driven by wasteful spending by the Bergen County Democrats. Examples include ~$150,000 on camera equipment, $7,000 to remove poison ivy, $14,500 for 24 hours of labor, and $238 for two bags of veggie chips! To address this, I propose creating what I call a Cost Containment Committee of seven private volunteer experts to scrutinize the budget and ensure every dollar is spent efficiently for the benefit of Bergen County residents.
News2A: A number of very effective voter engagement and registration activities have taken place at gun ranges. In fact, Scott Presler has been incredibly effective in this movement in New Jersey in particular. Why do you think the gun owner/shooting sports demographic is so important to engage?
JC: The gun owner community in New Jersey has historically been politically disengaged, with many unregistered to vote. However, recent efforts, like those led by Scott Presler and his great team, have mobilized this group considerably. The 2024 election showed New Jersey nearing swing-state status, which shows we have a growing base in the state of like-minded individuals. Gun owners are critical because we are passionate, motivated, and increasingly aware that actually engaging in the political process instead of refusing can protect/ensure our rights and effect the change we are looking for.
News2A: New Jersey’s burdensome and unconstitutional gun laws have caught national attention. Yet there seems to be a groundswell of activity from gun owners in light of the 2022 Bruen Supreme Court decision and the 88,000 carry permits that have been issued in New Jersey. How do you see this trend affecting voting behavior?
JC: The 2022 Bruen Supreme Court decision was a turning point for me and many gun owners. With 88,000 carry permits issued as of now, Bruen empowered law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights at a level not seen in New Jersey in decades, which naturally sparks greater political engagement. It demonstrated that voting and actually engaging in the political process can can help us protect our 2A rights and that we can actually win. Once we crack the armor with wins this November, I believe the 2A community engagement in NJ will explode.
News2A: I’m sure you’re aware of the eight New Jersey towns – soon to be nine– that have begun rebating the $150 municipal portion of the Permit to Carry fee. In your role at the county level, what kinds of pro-Second Amendment initiatives will you be able to put forward?
JC: While county-level authority over Second Amendment issues is limited due to state preemption, my commitment to protecting these rights is rock solid. I will advocate for policies that respect law-abiding gun owners and work to elect state leaders, like a pro-Second Amendment governor, who can appoint an Attorney General to dismantle the unconstitutional laws we have. Engaging like-minded individuals in the political process is key to our long term goals as a 2A community here in New Jersey.
News2A: You’re relatively new to the 2A world. How and why did you go from a bystander to an active participant?
JC: I didn’t grow up in a gun-owning household, despite my family’s conservative values. Nor did I have any military or law-enforcement in my family, either. My appreciation for the Second Amendment deepened around 2016, recognizing its role in American history and culture. I purchased my first firearm in 2017 but frankly found little use for it. Keeping it locked in a safe only to pull it out to shoot paper targets was not exactly exciting to me. That was until the Bruen decision allowed us to daily carry, which changed everything. As a father with a growing family, I value the right to self-defense now more than ever. If we don’t have that, we have nothing.
News2A: How often do you get to train, where do you like to shoot, and what’s your favorite gun to shoot?
JC: The campaigning has significantly reduced my training time. Most of the time I am at Gun For Hire lately is with Scott Presler and his great Early Vote Action team. Before the campaign kicked into high gear, I trained regularly at Gun For Hire with instructors Vlad and Wayne, who do a fantastic job training for real-world scenarios and adding stress to the training. I also enjoy outdoor shooting at Cherry Ridge Range, operated by ANJRPC. I find it extremely peaceful to go out there in the mountains and get away from it all. There’s no cell service, which is excellent. My favorite firearm to shoot is the one that I have trained with the most extensively. It is also the first gun I ever bought, a Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact. After trying many other guns to fit every which need, eventually I realized that I am better served just training with one gun that can do it all instead of multiple. Plus the Apex flat trigger I put in it makes it incredible.
News2A: We’ve recently seen the federal government get involved in litigation on “assault weapons” and magazine bans coming out of New Jersey. Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights division, Harmeet Dhillon, has been a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. What can counties do to safeguard Second Amendment rights in a state that is aggressively hostile towards gun owners?
JC: Counties have limited direct authority over Second Amendment laws due to state preemption. However, electing a pro-Second Amendment governor on November 4, is critical. A new governor can appoint an Attorney General to challenge New Jersey’s aggressive anti-gun laws and lawsuits, paving the way for policies that respect law-abiding gun owners. It is extremely important for everyone to go VOTE by November 4th. Our state, and our 2A rights cannot take full Democrat party control any longer. Go VOTE!
To learn more about Jay and his campaign, or to support him financially or otherwise, click here.
