Rep. Mickey Sherrill (D-N.J.) and Republican businessman Jack Ciattarelli faced off in New Brunswick on Wednesday evening. Second and final New Jersey gubernatorial debate Before election day.
The debate mainly focused on issues dominated by caste, including the economy. But there were many tense moments on stage. Sherrill repeatedly tried to link Ciattarelli to Trump, while attacking him over the fraud scandal that erupted during his tenure at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Here are five takeaways from Wednesday’s New Jersey gubernatorial debate:
debate becomes tasty
The debate became heated at times, especially when the moderators asked the candidates how they would bring more jobs to the state amid a 5 percent unemployment rate and other factors creating uncertainty over hiring.
For her part, Sherrill attacked Ciattarelli over his medical publishing company and his role in the opioid crisis. NJ.com Reported in 2021 The Republican candidate’s firm, Galen Publishing, received money from top pharmaceutical companies, which helped finance the continuing education materials of the University of Tennessee’s pharmacy school. The former New Jersey assemblyman later sold the firm between 2008 and 2017.
NJ.com notes that some of those ingredients appear to reduce opioid risks. A spokesperson for Ciattarelli’s 2021 campaign said at the time that the drugmaker had come up with the topics covered in those educational materials, not the school itself.
But Sherrill took aim at Ciattarelli on the issue, charging that he was “working with some of the worst criminals saying opioids were safe, promoting them, publishing their propaganda, while thousands of New Jerseyans died.”
“First of all, shame on you,” Ciattarelli responded.
Sherrill interjected, saying, “You should be ashamed.”
“The difference between me and the congresswoman: I got to walk at my college graduation. I’ve never broken the law,” Ciattarelli shot back at one point, alluding to past stock trades.
It was the most tense moment of the debate, which often saw the candidates taking fierce shots at each other — a sign of the high stakes of the race as it shows signs of tightening ahead of November.
Ciattarelli, Sherrill embroiled in fraud scandal, records leaked
Ciattarelli and Sherrill also attacked each other over his leaked military records and the circumstances of his skipping his commencement ceremony at the Naval Academy in 1994.
A branch of the National Archives admitted last month that it accidentally released many of Sherrill’s military records in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request made by an associate of the Republican candidate. Sherrill used this incident to attack her opponent.
Sherrill said, “But I think that…really demands an answer as to why my opponent still won’t take accountability for releasing those records.”
“It is under federal investigation that a member of his team, whom he vetted to be his lieutenant governor, actually gained access to those records,” he said, referring to Nick DeGregorio.
Ciattarelli previously said he had never seen the leaked documents and did not know whether his campaign obtained them and then disseminated them to others.
The Republican gubernatorial candidate defended himself, saying that the FOIA request made by DeGregorio was “completely legal” and said that the National Archives took responsibility for the situation.
Amid military document leaks, multiple news outlets reported that Sherrill skipped her commencement ceremony at the Naval Academy. She has said that she did not run because she did not come out with some of her classmates during the 1994 scandal, but Ciattarelli has pressured her to release her disciplinary records in order to set the record straight.
“I think he was punished for something else, and so I think he needs to come clean,” he said.
He said the people “deserve answers as to why he was punished at the Naval Academy.”
Sherrill links Ciattarelli to Trump
Sherrill sought to connect Ciattarelli to President Trump during the hour-long forum. The congresswoman linked the businessman to Trump on a number of issues, including the president’s handling of “a big, beautiful bill,” voters’ personal information and tariffs.
“I know he loves to forgive President Trump for everything because he basically works for him,” Sherrill said.
However, Ciattarelli did not try to distance himself from Trump, and even said that when asked how he would grade his job as president, he would give the president an “A.”
“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.
Sherrill responded, “I think that tells us everything we need to know about who Jack Ciattarelli supports.” “I give him an F.”
Democrats on social media quickly seized on Ciattarelli’s response.
Polling shows Trump’s approval rating underwater in the Garden State. Trump has a 41 percent approval rating and 51 disapproval rating in the state, according to an Emerson College/PIX 11/The Hill poll released last month.
However, Republicans point to significant inroads made by Trump in New Jersey last year. Trump lost the blue state by nearly six points in 2024, which is an improvement from 2020 when he lost the state by more than 15 points.
Strengths take center stage
Affordability, particularly in relation to energy prices, has dominated as a top issue throughout the campaign. Wednesday’s debate was no different. The first question of the evening was on this topic and both candidates focused on energy affordability.
Sherrill promised to declare a state of emergency over energy prices on the first day of her administration. She also said she would directly confront landlords responsible for high rental prices.
Ciattarelli, on the other hand, said he would take New Jersey out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Republicans also discussed their plan to reduce child care costs and promised to focus 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.
It’s not clear whether this will move the needle
It’s unclear whether this debate, just a month before the election, will change voters’ minds, though strong standoff moments and interruptions could help or hinder a candidate’s momentum.
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The contest between Sherrill and Ciattarelli has been largely acrimonious, and neither candidate has had much to say in praise of the other.
Still, the debate gave voters one last chance to see the two candidates together before the election, which may have been helpful to those who may have joined the race late.
