Listen to this articleThe basics:
- Ciattarelli pledges to cut taxes, reduce regulations & improve New Jersey’s business climate
- Proposes doubling child care tax credits; creating a voucher program to ease costs
- Says the governor’s race remains a dead heat — predicts a GOP win
- Criticizes Sherrill’s policies; vows to address property taxes, crime and overdevelopment.
With just over a month to go until Election Day, the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy has taken centerstage in New Jersey.
That contest pits Republican Jack Ciattarelli against Democrat Mikie Sherrill.
NJBIZ recently spoke to Ciattarelli about a wide range of issues. Part one can be found here. This is the second and final part of that discussion, which took place Sept. 23.
NJBIZ has offered the same interview opportunity to the Sherrill campaign.
Child care
NJBIZ: You took part in a recent event about child care. Can you speak about that event – and your thoughts about how major of an issue the affordability of child care is, especially here in New Jersey?
Ciattarelli: What I said at that conference was the affordability crisis comes in many forms – depending on who you are. Senior citizens are most concerned about property taxes. There’s people that have to buy their own insurance – and they’ll talk to me about health insurance and how expensive it is. Everybody across the board is talking about their electricity bills.
But we know that people with small children, my goodness, the child care expense is one of the biggest in the house. Sometimes getting as much as the rent or the mortgage. So, I believe with a needs-based approach, we need to provide some relief for those who have significant child care expenses, so they can get back to work. That’s important for the individual, but it’s also important for our state economy.
There’s a number of different ways that I think that we can approach this.
The Big Beautiful Bill doubles the child care tax credit. I’d like to see an equivalent-type program here in New Jersey. And I’d like to see a voucher program for those below certain income levels; where people could take the voucher and use private child care. Which is, by the way, owned by more women than any other business in the State of New Jersey. And use privately-provided child care offices, facilities, businesses – to take care of their children.
Political climate
NJBIZ: Since this tragedy, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the rhetoric has ratcheted up. That was a topic mentioned a lot during the debate. There’s been a noticeable uptick in security. What’s that contrast been like since? And what you’re seeing on the campaign trail? How do you view just this compounding of rhetoric, and unfortunately, political violence?
Ciattarelli: Well, No. 1, I’m not going to stop going out on the campaign trail. I think the best way to honor Charlie Kirk’s life is to continue to get out on the campaign trail and engage in civil discourse. I’ve always tried to make my rhetoric fact-based. It’s a tendency of CPAs. As our parents always taught us, sometimes it’s not what you say – it’s how you say it. And I’ve always tried to be very responsible in my rhetoric; and I think that I have.
With regard to my opponent, I don’t understand at all ducking New Jersey events to go to Washington to vote on a resolution that celebrates Kirk’s life – then catches all kinds of hell from the far left. And then comes out with a statement that condemns Charlie Kirk’s life. I don’t understand it one bit. But I’ll continue to go out there and conduct myself in a very, very responsible way.
I think all leaders today, whether seeking office or serving in office, have a responsibility to not use hate-fueled rhetoric.
I think all leaders today, whether seeking office or serving in office, have a responsibility to not use hate-fueled rhetoric.
– Jack Ciattarelli, Republican gubernatorial candidate
Survey says
NJBIZ: The most recent Quinnipiac Poll had your opponent up eight. You put an internal poll out that had you up one. I saw your appearance on “Fox and Friends” saying that the campaign views it as a dead heat. How are you approaching these next 40-plus days in terms of where you see the state of this race?
[This question was asked before the most recent Emerson College poll dropped, showing the race deadlocked. Meanwhile, a Fox News poll out Sept. 30 has Sherrill up 8 points – 50% to 42%.]
Ciattarelli: We’re going to approach the next 42 days the way we approached every yesterday – taking nothing for granted; going out all across the state and telling people how it is that we’re going to fix our broken state. And that leadership matters. And that what we need is a Jersey guy, not somebody that’s been here a dozen years and spent more than half of them in Washington, D.C. So, I know what’s going on.
But with regard to the polls, we know that the polls that come out of the universities, historically, have under-polled Republicans. That’s the same poll that had me down 12 points with two weeks to go last time around. We believe this is a dead heat. Her campaign knows it’s a dead heat. So, we’re just going to continue to go out there and do our thing. And I’m pretty positive it’s gonna deliver a win.
Quinnipiac Poll, released Sept. 18:
Emerson College Poll, released Sept. 25:
On the road
NJBIZ: Last go round, you made some gains in areas that Republicans haven’t typically and then President [Donald] Trump continued that trend. You just opened up a campaign office in Passaic. How do you think about that – the opportunities to pick up votes in areas where historically Republicans maybe didn’t? Ocean and Monmouth counties, Republicans tend to run it up a bit, but do you feel like there’s real opportunities in other parts of the state to make some big gains?
Ciattarelli: One of the great challenges of the 2021 campaign was the pandemic, particularly the shelter-in-place order. You just couldn’t get everywhere you’d want to go. I’ve always come places other Republicans don’t or won’t. But gaining access in the urban centers during the pandemic was not easy. There’s no pandemic this time.
So, we’ve been able to go anywhere and everywhere we want. And I will tell you, the reception, particularly in the minority communities, has been exceptional – the Black community, the Latino community, the Jewish community, across the board. I’m really excited about what that means for the outcome of the race.
Takeaways
NJBIZ: Throughout this journey, this campaign process over these last bunch of years, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned? The biggest takeaway as you’ve talked to everyday New Jerseyans, everyday business owners throughout the state?
Ciattarelli: Listen, New Jersey always comes through. If you look at history, Republicans have won six of the last 11 races. And anytime the Democratic party gets too extreme with their policies, New Jersey will pull it right back to the middle with the next election. And I really see that happening this time around.
Stopped by Murph’s Tavern in Totowa this week between campaign stops. You can always count on a great crowd at this classic Irish bar.
Enjoyed catching up with the Totowa DPW crew and others who are ready for change and ready to vote RED this November! pic.twitter.com/oXq26YpgpU
— Jack Ciattarelli (@Jack4NJ) September 30, 2025
People have just had it with parties that are out of touch with what’s going with everyday New Jerseyans. And I think an example of that was the other night at the debate. You don’t hear my opponent talking about the property tax crisis. You don’t hear her talking about what’s going on in public education. You don’t hear her talk about what’s going on with violent crime in the community – with the break-ins, the car thefts and the flash mobs along the Jersey Shore and in our malls.
And, of course, the overdevelopment crisis. We’re paving over and taking “garden” right out of the Garden State in our suburban communities. So, the key here is to go out there and talk about the issues that matter to everyday New Jerseyans – and when I’m out there, that’s what they’re talking about.
A better place to do business
NJBIZ: The attack ads have ratcheted up. And there is the clip that her campaign put out regarding the sales tax issue. That issue was touched on a bunch during the debate the other night. Any response to those ads – and how do you view that issue?
Ciattarelli: Because this race is a dead heat right now, the lies are going to continue. So, fasten your seatbelts. But what I found fascinating about the debate is – I put to rest this notion of me raising the sales tax to 10%. It’s a blatant lie. But then, when she was asked about whether or not she would raise taxes, she said, “I’m going to be fiscally responsible, but I’m not going to commit to anything right now.”
Let me see if I get this straight, you’re going to lie about me raising taxes. But then, when you’re asked whether or not you’re going to raise taxes – you’re not going to make a commitment either way right now?
NJBIZ: What is your overall message to the business community – to the business leaders – about what they can expect with you in charge?
Ciattarelli: That I refuse to be a governor of a state that’s ranked one of the worst in the country to do business. The only way to grow our economy is to make New Jersey a better place to do business. And here’s how we do that. We lower business taxes. We lessen regulations. We provide a labor pool that meets the needs of business. And we lower the electricity bill across the board.
The only way to grow our economy is to make New Jersey a better place to do business.
We do those four things – and we can, within the first few months of my administration – we will transform New Jersey into one of the best places to do business.
‘I’m my own man’
NJBIZ: What’s the closing message during this final stretch – and what does that look like day-to-day for you on the trail?
Ciattarelli: The closing message is I have a candidacy that is really quite unique. My family’s been here for over 100 years. Three generations of us have been business owners. I’m an MBA/CPA and two-time successful business owner. I’ve also served at every level of government – municipal, county and legislatively – and always term-limited myself; not even taking the salary or benefits at the municipal and county level.
So, you’ve got somebody that, actually, is from New Jersey, understands New Jersey – knows what needs to be done and is willing to do it.
NJBIZ: Your opponent tries to paint you as Donald Trump 2.0. What would you say in response to that?
Ciattarelli: That campaign strategy is not going to work. People that know Jack Ciattarelli and take the time to study up on me – know that I’m my own man and I’m all about New Jersey. And I’m always going to advocate fiercely for our 9.3 million citizens and our million businesses across the state.
NJBIZ: I’ll close with this, Jack. And I appreciate your time and candor. For people just starting to pay attention to this race, what would you tell the average New Jerseyan and average business owner is the biggest contrast between Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill?
Ciattarelli: The Ciattarelli’s have been here for 100 years. We’ve owned businesses in this state – and I’ve served at every level of government, term-limiting myself each time. But the bottom line is, we know what’s going on – and we have very specific plans on how to fix New Jersey. My opponent does not.
