Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) and Republican businessman Jack Ciattarelli came face-to-face on Wednesday evening in New Brunswick for the second and final New Jersey gubernatorial debate before Election Day.
The debate stayed largely focused on the issues dominating the race, including the economy. But the forum did see a number of tense moments. Sherrill repeatedly sought to tie Ciattarrelli to Trump, while he attacked her over a cheating scandal that took place during her time at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Here are five takeaways from Wednesday’s New Jersey gubernatorial debate:
Debate gets testy
The debate got heated at times, particularly when the moderators asked the candidates how they would go about bringing more jobs to the state amid a 5 percent unemployment rate and other factors causing uncertainty over hiring.
Sherrill for her part attacked Ciattarelli over his medical publishing firm and its role in the opioid crisis. NJ.com reported in 2021 that the Republican candidate’s firm, Galen Publishing, received funding from top pharmaceutical companies that helped finance the University of Tennessee’s pharmacy school’s continuing education materials. The former New Jersey assemblyman later sold the firm between 2008 and 2017.
NJ.com noted some of those materials appeared to minimize the risk of opioids. A spokesperson for Ciattarelli’s 2021 campaign said at the time that drug manufacturers didn’t come up with the topics included in those educational materials but from the school itself.
But Sherrill took a shot at Ciattarelli over the issue, alleging that he was “working with some of the worst offenders and saying that opioids were safe, putting out propaganda, publishing their propaganda, while tens of thousands of New Jerseyans died.”
“First of all, shame on you,” Ciattarelli retorted.
“Shame on you,” Sherrill interjected.
“The difference between me and the congresswoman: I got the walk at my college graduation. I’ve never broken the law,” Ciattarelli shot back at one point, hitting her over past stock trades.
It was the tensest moment in a debate that often saw the candidates lobbing broadsides at one another — a sign of the race’s high stakes as it shows signs of tightening ahead of November.
Ciattarelli, Sherrill tangle over cheating scandal, leaked records
Ciattarelli and Sherrill also attacked each other over her leaked military records and the circumstances around why she didn’t walk during her commencement ceremony at the Naval Academy in 1994.
A branch of the National Archives acknowledged last month it accidentally released too much of Sherrill’s military records in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request made by an ally of the Republican candidate. Sherrill used the incident to attack her opponent.
“But here’s what I think …really demands an answer is why my opponent still won’t take accountability for the release of those records,” Sherrill said.
“It’s under federal investigation that a member of his team, someone he vetted to be his lieutenant governor, actually got access to those records,” she added, referring to Nick De Gregorio.
Ciattarelli has previously said he’s never seen the leaked documents and doesn’t know if his campaign obtained them and then dispersed them to others.
The Republican gubernatorial candidate defended himself, saying the FOIA request made by De Gregorio was “perfectly legal” and noted the National Archives has taken responsibility over the situation.
Amid the military documents leak, several news outlets reported that Sherrill did not walk during her commencement ceremony at the Naval Academy. She has maintained that she didn’t walk because she didn’t turn in some of her classmates during the 1994 scandal, but Ciattarelli has pressed her to release her disciplinary records to set the record straight.
“I think she was punished for something else, and so I think she needs to come clean,” he said.
He added that people deserved “an answer as to why she was punished at the Naval Academy.”
Sherrill ties Ciattarelli to Trump
Sherrill sought to link Ciattarelli to President Trump throughout the hour-long forum. The congresswoman tied the businessman to Trump on a number of issues including the president’s “one big, beautiful bill,” his handling of voters’ personal information and tariffs.
“I know he likes to excuse President Trump for everything because that’s who he works for basically,” Sherrill said.
However, Ciattarelli did not try to distance himself from Trump, and even said he would give the president an “A” when asked how he would grade his job as president.
“I think he’s right about everything he’s doing,” the Republican nominee said, citing Trump’s handling of the economy, the border, inflation and congestion pricing.
“I think that tells us all we need to know about who Jack Ciattarelli is support,” Sherrill responded. “I give him an F.”
Democrats on social media were quick to seize on Ciattarelli’s answer.
Polling shows Trump’s approval ratings underwater in the Garden State. According to an Emerson College/PIX 11/The Hill poll released last month, Trump holds a 41 percent approval rating and a 51 disapproval rating in the state.
However, Republicans point to the significant inroads Trump made in New Jersey last year. Trump lost the blue state by nearly six points in 2024, an improvement from 2020 when he lost the state by over 15 points.
Affordability takes center stage
Affordability, particularly regarding energy prices, has dominated as the top issue throughout the campaign. Wednesday’s debate was no different. The first question of the evening was on the topic and both candidates zeroed in on energy affordability.
Sherrill pledged to declare a state of emergency on energy prices on day one of her administration. She also said she would go head-to-head with landlords responsible for high rent prices.
Ciattarelli, on the other hand, said he would pull New Jersey out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The Republican also touched on his plan to lower the cost of childcare and pledged to take on housing affordability.
According to an Emerson College/PIX 11/The Hill survey released last month, 51 percent of New Jersey voters said the economy was their top issue while 11 percent said the same about housing affordability.
Unclear if it will move the needle
It’s unclear if the debate will change voters’ minds just a month out from the election, though strong standout moments and stumbles can help or hinder the momentum of a candidate
— and add to fodder for advertising later on.
The race between Sherrill and Ciattarelli has largely been bitter, with neither candidate finding even little to compliment each other.
Still, the debate did offer voters their last chance to see both candidates contrast themselves side-by-side ahead of the election, which could helpful for those who may have tuned into the race late.
