Listen to this articleThe basics:
- Sherrill, Ciattarelli spar in the final gubernatorial debate before Election Day
- Heated exchanges covered taxes, jobs, NJ Transit funding & transparency
- Candidates clash over military records, stock trades and opioid allegations
- Polls show a tightening race to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy
The second and final New Jersey gubernatorial debate was a chippy one. Wednesday evening’s event featured several tense exchanges between candidates Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, as the race to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy reaches the final stretch.
The Rutgers Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, WPVI-TV, WABC-TV and New Brunswick Performing Arts Center –where it was held – hosted the hour-long forum. Anchors Tamala Edwards of WPVI-TV Philadelphia and Bill Ritter of WABC-TV New York moderated.
The race has ratcheted up heading to Election Day in November, with polls showing a single digit lead for U.S. Rep. Sherrill over Ciattarelli — and one recent poll putting the race in a dead-heat.
Over the last two weeks, tensions have flared with regards to a number of issues.
That includes over Sherrill’s role in a Navy cheating scandal in 1994 and the release of those records – that included unredacted information about Sherrill – to a GOP operative, which is being investigated by Inspector General for the National Archives, as well as attack ads lobbed by both campaigns as the war of words heats up.
Opposing points
That sentiment maintained Oct. 8, as the two candidates sparred over a range of issues including energy costs; those aforementioned military records; President Donald Trump; the federal government shutdown; transportation, NJ Transit and Gateway Program funding; immigration; affordability; property taxes; education; business climate and more.
A notable heated exchange came during that discussion about the challenging business environment and how the candidates address concerns around unemployment, tariffs, inflation and AI to bring jobs to Jersey. Sherrill lobbed an accusation about a medical publishing company Ciattarelli once owned (Galen Publishing), alleging that it published pieces downplaying the dangers of opioids. NJ.com reported on this during the 2021 campaign.
“My opponent likes to talk a lot about being a businessman, but I think what New Jersey doesn’t know is much about his business,” said Sherrill. “How he made his millions by 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.
“My opponent likes to talk a lot about being a businessman, but I think what New Jersey doesn’t know is much about his business.
— Mikie Sherrill
“And as if that wasn’t enough, then he was paid to develop an app so that people who were addicted could more easily get access to opioids. And so, as he made millions, as these opioid companies made billions – tens of thousands of New Jerseyans died.”
Back and forth
Ciattarelli shot back, “First of all, shame on you.”
Sherrill responded, “Shame on you, sir.”
Ciattarelli retorted, “Shame on you.”
He pointed to her record on immigration, accusing Sherrill of turning a blind eye to a border surge during the Biden administration.
“Talk to your local police – talk to your county prosecutors. Since the border has been secured, the fentanyl crisis has decreased significantly. She supported those open border policies. With regard to everything she just said about my professional career, which provided my family – it’s a lie. I’m proud of my career.”
Sherrill continued, “I’m happy to publish the information, because I think our kids deserve better. I think the people that you got addicted and died deserve better than you.”
Ciattarelli shot back that he was allowed to walk in his graduation, alluding to the aforementioned Navy cheating scandal. Elsewhere, he has called on Sherrill to release her full military records.
He also went on his own attack about stock trades made by Sherrill’s husband that have come under scrutiny.
The difference between me and the congresswoman – I got to walk in my college graduation.
— Jack Ciattarelli
“The difference between me and the congresswoman – I got to walk in my college graduation. I’ve never broken the law. She had to pay federal fines for breaking federal law on stock trades and stock reporting,” said Ciattarelli. “And the New York Times reports – was trading defense stocks while sitting on the House Armed Services Committee.”
Transparency talk
Sherrill responded, “This is the same old misinformation that he continues to promote. Because he knows that I don’t trade in individual stocks. He knows I’ve gone above and beyond that. He promotes some garbage number – but he actually knows so much about my finances because they’re all to the dollar.
“But here’s the other thing, what he never learned despite walking at his graduation was accountability, integrity, care for the community – and I think that disqualifies him.”
Ciattarelli responded, “She released two years of tax returns the years after she paid the federal fines. I’ve released 12 years going back every single year.”
Sherrill said, “You released yours a minute before the last debate because you knew I was gonna call you on it.”
That exchange gives you a sense of how the night played out – and the tone and tenor of this race with under a month to go.
Final words
Afterward, both candidates projected confidence and triumph about their performance.
“Exactly what you could expect! Tonight, New Jersey saw the clear contrast in leadership and vision,” Ciattarelli wrote on social media. “I was prepared, honest, and ready with real solutions.
“Mikie? Vague answers, excuses, Washington talking points, and a lack of ethics and honesty. The choice has never been clearer. It’s time for real leadership and real results!”
Sherrill’s campaign manager Alex Ball released a statement:
“New Jerseyans who tuned into tonight’s debate saw that Mikie Sherrill is a strong, decisive leader who will always go to bat for New Jersey – and Jack Ciattarelli will only answer to Donald Trump.
“While Mikie shared her plans to bring down costs, protect kids, and make government more accountable to New Jerseyans, Jack gave Trump an ‘A’ grade, failed to name a single issue where he meaningfully disagrees with the president — including freezing funding for the Gateway Tunnel project, which threatens thousands of jobs while screwing over New Jersey commuters.”
Please stay tuned to NJBIZ for further debate/campaign coverage.
