Christopher R. Musto

Republican | New Jersey

Candidate Profile

Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Christopher R. Musto


Party

Republican


Election Year

2025


Election

General


Race

General Assembly, Dist. 36


Incumbent

No


Links

Christopher R. Musto websites FacebookXInstagramLinkedIn

EDUCATION

William Paterson University, Wayne, Sociology/Criminal Justice, 1997

WORK & MILITARY

U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Immigration Inspector, Jamaica, NY, 1997-1999

U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Office for Law Enforcement, Special Agent, Wall, NJ, 1999-2004

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Newark, NJ, 2004 - 2024 (Retired June 2024)

The Anzilotti Group, Ridgewood, NJ, Director of Safety and Security, Felician University, 2024 - 2025

AFFILIATIONS

Rotary Club of Rutherford

1, Italian-American Club of Lyndhurst

1

Federal Agents PBA 121

27, Federal Law Enforcement Officer's Association

27

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Lyndhurst Board of Education Trustee / President, 6

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

NJ General Assembly District 36, 2025

ENDORSEMENTS

CONSERVATIVE (2)

Bergen County Republican Organization; Passaic County Regular Republican Organization

OTHER (2)

Jack Ciattarelli; NRA-ILA

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (7)

Jack Ciattarelli; Gubernatorial Candidate; 2025; NRA; 2025

OTHER INFORMATION

Christopher Musto completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025.

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

I believe there are limited circumstances where abortion should be allowed. Specifically, 1) Life of the mother is in danger, 2) Rape, or 3) Incest. If continuing with pregnancy would place the woman's life in danger, there should be an option. Victim's of sexual assault should have the opportunity to terminate a pregnancy and not need to constantly relive the trauma. Lastly, in the situation of an incestuous pregnancy, it would be similar to that of a sexual assault victim.

Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.

Strongly Agree

Chemical abortion drugs should meet strict medical and safety standards and should be held to the same or higher regulatory scrutiny as other medications. The standards are necessary to protect women's health, prevent coercion of minors or abusers, limiting mail-order access and hold providers accountable.

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Agree

I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Agree

This is very personal decision that needs regulatory oversight and accountability, but should not be taxpayer funded. I believe there are very specific, limited, illnesses, medical situations and/or diseases that would or could be allowed.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Under what circumstances can government close churches?

This should not occur, but if there is a known and documented threat of violence or terror attack, I would urge the place of worship to close until the threat has been mitigated.

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Disagree


NATIONAL SECURITY

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Strongly Agree

The Chinese Communist Party poses a multifaceted and growing threat to the United States and global stability, employing various tactics beyond direct military confrontation. The potential threats are Cyber Warfare and Infiltration of sensitive industries, intellectual property theft and espionage, human rights violations, manufacturing of synthetic drugs and significant money laundering, economic coercion and of course military aggression.

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Yes. The US and Israel share a strong alliance due to a combination of strategic, security, and shared democratic values. Israel's strategic location, advanced military capabilities, and intelligence expertise make it a key partner in the Middle East for our country and the State of New Jersey. Our partnership with Israel is helpful in countering regional threats and promote stability. The US and Israel also share similar values and have strong and extensive economic ties.


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

If you are physically able and developmentally capable to perform some type of labor or work, you should have a finite amount of time utilize Medicaid and then be phased out. If you are a minor child, Senior, Veteran, disabled, or developmentally disabled, you should be able to claim Medicare or Medicaid, as necessary.

Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?

Vaccination should be a personal or parental choice, guided by medical advice, not government mandates. While vaccines have value in protecting public health, individuals must retain the freedom to decide.


ECONOMY

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

What is your position on the minimum wage?

Raising the minimum wage may sound nice, but it often hurts the very people it's meant to help. We should focus on creating good jobs, lowering taxes, and expanding opportunities so everyone can earn more through hard work, not government mandates.

Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?

No


IMMIGRATION

The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.

Strongly Agree

President Trump, through his administration, has taken significant steps to secure the southern border. ICE has also made tremendous progress with enforcement efforts in the interior of the U.S. This combined effort has disrupted human smugglers, human traffickers, fentanyl smuggling, and other criminal organizations. I believe these efforts make the US and NJ safer. Now NJ must end Sanctuary status, increase intelligence sharing and information exchange across all levels of law enforcement.


EDUCATION

The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.

Agree

I believe every child deserves the education that best fits their needs, and parents should be involved in that decision. This includes trades and skills programs for High School students. Education dollars that follow the child empower families, encourage innovation, and ensures that no student is trapped in a failing school simply because of their zip code. School choice programs protect parents’ freedom while driving all schools to raise their standards and better serve our children.


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.

Neutral

I spent 27 years in federal law enforcement combating gangs and narcotics. While I am not in favor of removing limited resources from law enforcement, I have personally witnessed the benefits of some community based programs. With proper leadership and planning, law enforcement can be fully funded and staffed, while we fully embrace community programs. These programs can be aimed at crime reduction or treatment services.


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

The right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental constitutional liberty, and any restriction must be focused on keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminals and those legally prohibited from owning them. That means enforcing existing laws, prosecuting violators, improving background check systems, cracking down on illegal gun trafficking, and ensuring strong penalties for gun crimes, without burdening law-abiding gun owners who use firearms responsibly.

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?

No

I am in favor of having law enforcement personnel in schools, whether they are full-time, active officers, special class 3 officers or a combination of both.


ABOUT YOU

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

No.

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

No.

What do you think is the general purpose of government?

The general purpose of government is to maintain order, protect rights, and promote the common good so that people can live safely, freely, and productively. Government exists to secure the rights of the people, not to control every aspect of their lives.

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Conservative

I try to take a very common sense approach to many issues and views, which are mostly conservative. I also like to conduct extensive research, review intelligence, receive briefings and question data to acquire the best available information to make informed decisions. It is necessary to determine how a decision will not only impact communities or individuals in the present, but for future generations as well.


VALUES

Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.

Strongly Agree

Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.

Strongly Agree

Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.

Strongly Disagree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Neutral

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I’ve been baptized, raised, received sacraments and continue to be a Roman Catholic.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Disagree

Identification is necessary for purchasing alcohol, medicine, operating a vehicle, entering a secure area of an airport or for boarding an aircraft. It should be mandatory to compare signatures for mail-in ballots, perform regular purges of voter rolls and comparison of names and photos for in-person voting.

States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.

Choose not to answer


EQUALITY

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

Racism is wrong, period. It undermines the dignity and value of every person, and it has no place in America. The best way to counter any such threat is to focus on what unites us as Americans - our shared freedoms, respect for the law, and belief that every American should have equal opportunity. National security is strongest when Americans stand together.

I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.

Disagree

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Strongly Agree

It is not only unfair, but also extremely dangerous to have biological males competing against females. I will introduce or support legislation banning this.


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.

A & C. We all want clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment for future generations, but Trenton’s green energy mandates are driving up costs for families and small businesses while putting our energy reliability at risk.

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

I believe in an all-of-the-above energy strategy—investing in cleaner technologies, natural gas, nuclear power, and innovation, without punishing taxpayers or making us dependent on outside energy sources.

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