Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli exchanged barbs on Wednesday, with Sherrill suggesting Ciattarelli profited from the opioid crisis and Ciattarelli bringing up a scandal over Sherrill’s military record.
The pair met in their final debate before the November 4 election for governorship of New Jersey,
Why It Matters
Along with Virginia, New Jersey is one of only two states holding gubernatorial elections this year. The election in traditionally Democratic New Jersey is being closely monitored as a bellwether for the level of support toward President Donald Trump and his administration.
While Republicans have not won a gubernatorial election in New Jersey since 2013 and its voters have gone for a Democrat in every presidential election since 1988, the GOP has seen success in the state in recent years. Trump increased his vote share by 10 points in 2024. This was the best showing by a GOP presidential nominee in two decades.
If Republicans win, it would serve as a warning for Democrats ahead of the November 2026 midterms.
What To Know
The heated debate got personal at times, with one of the sharpest clashes arriving when Sherrill, a U.S. representative, referred to a medical publishing company owned by Ciattarelli, a former state assemblyman.
“You’re trying to divert from the fact you killed tens of thousands of people by printing your misinformation, your propaganda,” Sherrill said, referring to reports that the company published drugmakers’ material on treatment for chronic pain.
She said Ciattarelli “made his millions by working with some of the worst offenders and saying that opioids were safe.”
“Shame on you,” Ciattarelli responded, to which Sherrill replied: “Shame on you, sir.”
Ciattarelli, who sold the company in 2017, said Sherrill’s comment about his business was “a lie” and he blamed the fentanyl crisis on former President Joe Biden’s “open border” policies.
The Republican, running for the governorship for the third time, then referred to a scandal surrounding Sherrill’s military records, saying, at least “I got to walk at my college graduation.”
Sherrill did not participate in her 1994 graduation from the United States Naval Academy amid fallout that year from a well-documented cheating scandal. The Democrat has said she was barred from walking the aisle because she did not turn in her classmates and has seized on the fact that her unredacted records were released by the National Archives to a Republican operative close to Ciattarelli’s campaign.
Trump also loomed large in the debate. Asked what grade he would give the president for his work, Ciattarelli said he would give an A. Sherrill said the president deserves an F.
Sherrill said Ciattarelli is beholden to Trump. The Republican then said he would put the needs of the Garden State first, while pointing out the advantages of having a good working relationship with the White House.
“Let me be clear. No matter who sits in the White House, my job is to stand up for the 9.3 million citizens of the state, and I will. I will fiercely advocate for them at all times. But let me also say this, that in times of need, it’s best to have a relationship with whoever occupies the White House, and I will,” Ciattarelli said.
The GOP candidate then tried to tie Sherrill to New York City Democratic mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani, whom conservatives have castigated for his progressive stances.
Both candidates expressed hopes for a quick end to the federal government shutdown and referred to its possible impact on the Gateway tunnel project connecting New Jersey to New York. The Trump administration said on October 1 it was putting a hold on about $18 billion in funding for the tunnel and an extension of a subway line as it reviews compliance with new diversity policies.
What People Are Saying
Sherrill added during the debate: “Jack won’t say one cross word about the president, even when he froze Gateway tunnel funding.”
Ciattarelli, referring to Sherrill’s bid to highlight Trump in their debate: “I don’t know what he has to do with our property taxes. I don’t know what he has to do with our energy rate.”
What Happens Next
The election is set for November 4. Sites for in-person voting will be open from October 25 to November 2. Postal voting is also an option.
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