New Jersey Gov. Debate: Sherrill, Ciattarelli Clash Over Trump, Shutdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli exchanged sharp attacks in their final debate before New Jersey’s gubernatorial election. Topics included Trump’s influence, the federal shutdown, military records, and the high cost of living. Voters have already begun casting ballots ahead of the November 4 election.
New Jersey Governor Debate Quick Looks
- Sherrill and Ciattarelli hold fiery final debate in NJ governor race
- Trump’s influence and the federal shutdown dominate key exchanges
- Sherrill accuses Ciattarelli of profiting from opioid crisis
- Ciattarelli hits back over Sherrill’s Naval Academy records
- Both candidates agree on keeping New Jersey’s full-service gas law
- Ciattarelli distances himself from far-right but defends Trump alliance
- Debate reflects larger national tensions heading into 2025 elections
- Gateway tunnel funding freeze tied to federal shutdown sparks conflict
- Sherrill links opponent to Trump; Ciattarelli focuses on local issues
Deep Look: Sherrill and Ciattarelli Spar Over Trump, Gas, Shutdown in Heated Final Debate
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey’s heated gubernatorial race reached a boiling point Wednesday night as Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli clashed in their second and final debate ahead of the November 4 election.
The hourlong debate, held as mail-in ballots are already being cast, showcased deep divisions over former President Donald Trump, the ongoing federal government shutdown, property taxes, and the Hudson River tunnel project. The debate, at times deeply personal, reflected the high stakes and national significance of the only gubernatorial election in a blue state this year.
Trump Takes Center Stage Again
As in previous exchanges, Trump loomed large. Sherrill, a four-term congresswoman who flipped a Republican-held seat in 2018, attacked Ciattarelli for aligning himself with the president, accusing him of failing to stand up for New Jersey when it matters.
“Jack won’t say one bad word about the president,” she said, noting Trump’s enthusiastic endorsement of Ciattarelli and the MAGA agenda.
Ciattarelli didn’t deny the endorsement but emphasized his independence:
“No matter who sits in the White House, my job is to stand up for New Jersey’s 9.3 million citizens,” he said. “It helps to have a working relationship with the president, whoever that is.”
He also dismissed Sherrill’s frequent Trump references as a distraction:
“I don’t know what he has to do with our property taxes or energy rates,” he quipped.
Opioid Allegations and Military Record Scandal
The debate turned personal when Sherrill accused Ciattarelli of profiting from the opioid crisis, citing a previous report that his former publishing company received over $12 million in grants, mostly from pharmaceutical firms, to publish articles downplaying the risks of opioids.
“You’re trying to divert from the fact you killed tens of thousands of people by printing your misinformation,” Sherrill said.
Ciattarelli forcefully rejected the claim:
“Shame on you,” he responded. “That’s a lie and you know it.”
He countered with a renewed focus on Sherrill’s military records, referencing her controversial absence from her 1994 Naval Academy graduation, which was linked to a cheating scandal. Sherrill has stated she was barred from the ceremony for refusing to turn in classmates but denies wrongdoing.
“I got to walk at my college graduation,” Ciattarelli said, implying Sherrill had something to hide.
Sherrill alleged that Ciattarelli’s campaign had ties to the Republican operative who obtained her unredacted military records — a release now under federal investigation.
“Either he’s really incompetent or he’s lying,” she said.
Ciattarelli called for full transparency and demanded she release her disciplinary records.
Federal Shutdown and the Gateway Project
Both candidates addressed the federal shutdown, which is now in its second week, and its potential implications for the Hudson River Gateway project — a critical infrastructure initiative to build a new tunnel between New Jersey and New York.
Sherrill slammed the Trump administration’s move to freeze $18 billion in funding for the project, citing it as an abuse of federal power tied to diversity policy reviews.
Ciattarelli agreed the project is vital but claimed the shutdown hasn’t yet impacted construction:
“The construction is not stopping. This shutdown would have to go on for two or three months before the Gateway project would run to a halt,” he said.
Both candidates called for an end to the shutdown, but differed on who’s to blame and how to ensure future funding stability.
Immigration and Pathway to Citizenship
Immigration policy also came up. Ciattarelli, while aligning with conservative views on border control, offered a slightly more moderate stance than Trump’s:
“People here illegally but who’ve followed the law otherwise should get a pathway to recognition.”
“That’s not a real thing,” she said, pushing for clearer, more accountable policies.
Jersey Gas Law: A Rare Agreement
One area of rare agreement: New Jersey’s full-service gas law. Both candidates committed to keeping the ban on self-service gas, which makes New Jersey the only state where drivers can’t pump their own fuel.
A Bellwether Race in a Divided Nation
With New Jersey and Virginia being the only two states holding gubernatorial elections in 2025, political analysts are watching closely. The race is seen as a litmus test for Trump’s second term and the Democratic response at the state level.
Ciattarelli, who previously ran for governor in 2021, is positioning himself as a pragmatic alternative to progressive governance. Sherrill, a Navy veteran and former prosecutor, is framing the race as a battle to protect democratic institutions and working families from Trump-era policies.
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