State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is scheduled to make his announcement Tuesday.
TRENTON -- State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is set to become the first Republican to formally enter what's likely to be a crowded field seeking to succeed Gov. Chris Christie in next year's election.
Ciattarelli (R-Somerset) is scheduled to declare his bid Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Manville High School.
"I feel very strongly about pointing New Jersey in an entirely different and new direction," he told NJ Advance Media on Thursday. "I've got specific ideas on how to do that."
Ciattarelli, 54, was a Raritan Borough councilman and then a member of the Somerset County Freeholder Board before he was elected to serve central Jersey's 16th district in the Assembly, the lower house of the state Legislature. His district includes parts of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset counties.
Sizing up the likely candidates for governor
Ciattarelli is known as a moderate Republican and has gained attention over the last years for being a frequent critic of Christie, a Republican whose approval rating has fallen into the 20s.
"After nearly five years in the Legislature, I've come to the realization that the best way to make change is from a different perch," he said. "I can't get it done from where I currently sit."
Other Republicans considering a run for their party's nomination include Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union), Evesham Mayor Randy Brown, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, and state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union).
Experts say Republicans face an uphill battle keeping the governor's office when Christie's second and final term is up.
So far, only Phil Murphy, a former banking executive and U.S. ambassador to Germany, has declared his candidacy for the Democratic nod. A number of others are expected to follow suit in the coming months.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop -- who was expected to be one of the favorites for the Democratic nod, along with Murphy and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) -- announced Wednesday that he has decided not to run.
Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.