Bill Spadea
Bill Spadea | |
|---|---|
 Spadea in 2015 | |
| Born | William G. Spadea March 25, 1969 |
| Occupation(s) | Disc jockey, radio personality |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Jodi Spadea (married 1994-present) |
| Website | https://www.billspadea.com |
William G. Spadea (born March 25, 1969) is an American businessman and television host from New Jersey, who was the Republican nominee for United States Congress in New Jersey's 12th congressional district in 2004. He was Chairman of the College Republican National Committee (1993–95) and was the host of Chasing News.[1] Spadea is a former Republican congressional candidate who became a loyalist to former President Donald Trump. He has spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and vaccines.[2][3][4]
Bill Spadea founded the Common Sense Club, a non-profit that aims to reduce the size of government and promote fiscal conservatism.
He currently is the morning radio personality at NJ 101.5, New Jersey's largest radio station.
On June 17, 2024, he announced his candidacy for the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election.
Background
[edit]Spadea graduated from Boston University in 1991. He is a former United States Marine receiving an honorable discharge in 1999. Spadea served as the elected Chairman of the College Republican National Committee (CRNC).[5] During his term, the Republican National Committee discontinued funding for the College Republicans.[6]
CRNC Chairmanship
[edit]Spadea began a nationwide program to register students with the CRNC. The use of the standard form for recruitment of College Republicans started during his term from 1993 through 1995 and helped the CRNC to get a grasp on its total membership.[clarification needed] He kept contact with the membership through a national newspaper titled the Broadside, which was delivered to tens of thousands of College Republicans across the country.[7] Spadea assisted the hundreds of youth efforts that changed the course of history by electing a Republican Congress for the first time over 40 years in 1994.[8]
Run for Congress and political follow-up
[edit]Running a grassroots campaign that included walking 200 miles to each of 44 towns in the district,[9] he polled over 40% of the vote on election day [10] 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.[11] He was considered a possible candidate for the United States Senate in 2006.[12] Spadea served as a surrogate speaker for former New York City Mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani in New Jersey.[13]
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 lost by a three to one margin, earning 52 votes, behind Readington Township Committeewoman Donna Simon with 155 votes.[14]
Spadea lost both of his political campaigns, failing to top 40% of the vote either time.[15][16]
Spadea has also started a political action committee called Elect Common Sense, an independent expenditure organization named Common Sense Wins, and a nonprofit called the Common Sense Club, in support of conservative policies and "common sense" Republican candidates.[17][18][19][20]
Spadea hinted that he would seek the 2025 GOP nomination for NJ Governor in late 2022,[21] and announced in June 2024 that he is running.[22]
Broadcasting
[edit]Beginning in December 2015, Spadea has been the morning drive time host on New Jersey 101.5 (WKXW), replacing long time morning personality Jim Gearhart, while continuing to host the Chasing News television show until its end in 2020.[23][24]
Positions
[edit]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.[25]
Spadea was outspoken and critical of the handling of the pandemic by Governor Murphy in New Jersey, specifically the lockdowns and other mandates. [26][27][28] Spadea also emceed a December event hosted by the New York Young Republicans whose attendees included white nationalists.[2]
Spadea has been criticized by some for his on-air advocacy against the need for COVID-19 vaccination and other routine vaccinations in New Jersey. In 2020 Spadea has commented on-air that people should stop wearing masks because, "they don't work and make you look stupid", which lead to some listeners to file complaints with the FCC. [29][30]
Personal life
[edit]From 1999 to 2013, Spadea worked as 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.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Bill Spadea website; accessed October 24, 2014.
- ^ a b Friedman, Matt. "Bill Spadea and Marjorie Taylor Greene: Perfect Together". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ Friedman, Matt (2023-07-28). "Pro-Trump radio host who may run for New Jersey governor raised a lot for candidates, but hasn't spent much on them". Politico.
- ^ Diamond, Michael L (2021-08-04). "No, the COVID vaccine doesn't have a microchip. How NJ doctors are fighting misinformation". app.com.
Spadea, with one of the largest megaphones in New Jersey, has called for outright defiance, urging listeners to skip the vaccine.
- ^ "College Republicans elect new chief". The Washington Times. July 30, 1995.
- ^ "Collegians Defunded". The Washington Times. January 31, 1995.
- ^ "College Group Loses Money From G.O.P." The New York Times. January 30, 1995.
- ^ Profile Archived June 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, minormusings.com; accessed October 24, 2014.
- ^ Profile Archived June 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, dailyprincetonian.com, October 21, 2004; accessed October 24, 2014.
- ^ "2004 Massachusetts General Election Results". Boston.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
- ^ Profile, opensecrets.org; accessed October 24, 2014.
- ^ Spadea as possible candidate in 2006 for U.S. Senate, politickernj.com; accessed October 24, 2014.
- ^ Profile, politickernj.com; accessed October 24, 2014.
- ^ "Readington's Donna Simon chosen to take the late Peter Biondi's 16th District Assembly seat". The Messenger-Gazette. January 20, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ "Readington's Donna Simon chosen to take the late Peter Biondi's 16th District Assembly seat". The Messenger-Gazette. January 20, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ Profile, opensecrets.org; accessed October 24, 2014.
- ^ Wildstein, David (2023-03-02). "Spadea unveils PAC to help '23 candidates who support his 'common sense' agenda". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ "About : Common Sense Club". www.commonsenseclub.org. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ "Elect Common Sense announces initial set of advisors, led by Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore". insidernj.com. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ Friedman, Matt (2023-07-28). "Pro-Trump radio host who may run for New Jersey governor raised a lot for candidates, but hasn't spent much on them". Politico. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ "Inching closer to expected 2025 play, Spadea promises "big announcements coming soon"". 16 August 2022.
- ^ "Proudly Pro-Trump Bill Spadea Running for Governor". Insider NJ. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ 101.5 website; accessed September 19, 2016
- ^ Friedman, Matt (2020-06-23). "Chasing News runs out of steam". Politico. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ Affordable housing law making NJ un-affordable (Opinion) http://nj1015.com/affordable-house-making-nj-un-affordable-opinion @nj1015
- ^ "The tide is turning against lockdowns in New Jersey".
- ^ "Another doc weighs in against lockdowns — is Murphy listening?".
- ^ "Day 162 of 15 days to stop the spread in NJ".
- ^ Tully, Tracey; Otterman, Sharon; Hoffman, Jan (16 January 2020). "How Anti-Vaccine Activists Doomed a Bill in New Jersey". The New York Times.
- ^ "No, the COVID vaccine doesn't have a microchip. How NJ doctors are fighting misinformation".