vote on election day and was ranked 17th out of 157 GOP challengers nationwide. Spadea was successful in raising more money than any other Republican challenger in New Jersey in 2004. He was considered a possible candidate for the United States Senate in 2006. Spadea served as a surrogate speaker for former New York City Mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani in New Jersey. In 2012, Spadea ran for the state legislature, running for the 16th District's Assembly seat that was vacant after the death of Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi. In the convention to appoint a replacement, he finished second with 52 votes, behind Readington Township Committeewoman Donna Simon with 155 votes. Spadea lost both of his political campaigns. Positions In June 2018, Spadea advocated for a state constitutional amendment to revoke the Mount Laurel doctrine, arguing the imposition of unnecessary housing development increased tax burdens unfairly. Spadea was outspoken and critical of the handling of the pandemic by Governor Murphy in New Jersey, specifically the lockdowns and other mandates. Vaccine controversy Spadea has been criticized by some for his on-air advocacy against the need for COVID-19 vaccination and other routine vaccination in New Jersey. In 2021, Spadea was banned from LinkedIn due to accusations of spreading vaccine misinformation and announced in response he was looking into the possibility of "legal action." Personal life Since 1999, Spadea has been a corporate vice president for education and career development in the real estate industry for Weichert, Realtors. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey with his wife and their two children. See also List of Chairpersons of the College Republicans References External links 1969 births American television journalists Businesspeople from New Jersey Boston University alumni College Republican National Committee chairs Living people New Jersey Republicans Place of birth missing (living people) People from Princeton, New Jersey American male journalists