With less than a month until New Jersey voters head to the polls, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli faced off Wednesday night in their last debate—and it quickly turned into the most combative encounter of the race (perhaps it’s a Jersey thing).
At several points the two candidates leaned across their podiums and told each other, “Shame on you,” underscoring just how bitter the governor’s contest has become.
Personal Attacks Front and Center
The sharpest clash came when Sherrill accused Ciattarelli of profiting from work that minimized the dangers of opioids. Her campaign later circulated a 2021 report noting that Ciattarelli’s company produced continuing education materials for universities, which critics described as “advertising” funded by pharmaceutical companies. Some of those materials, according to the story, appeared to downplay the risks of opioids.
“Shame on you,” Ciattarelli shot back. “Shame on you, sir,” Sherrill answered.
Ciattarelli then pivoted, blaming the fentanyl crisis on President Joe Biden’s “open border” policies. He also dismissed Sherrill’s claim, calling it “a lie.”
Naval Academy Controversy Resurfaces
Ciattarelli tried to revive questions about Sherrill’s time at the U.S. Naval Academy, where she was prevented from walking at graduation during a widespread cheating scandal. Sherrill has said she refused to turn in classmates and has criticized Ciattarelli’s campaign for sharing largely unredacted copies of her military records.
“I got to walk at my college graduation,” Ciattarelli quipped, before accusing Sherrill of hiding the real reason for her punishment. Sherrill fired back: “I think you’re trying to divert from the fact that you killed tens of thousands of people by printing your misinformation, your propaganda, and then getting paid to develop an app so that people could more easily get the opioids once they were addicted.”
She added, “Families across the state deserve to know more about that.”
Clashes Over Trump and Murphy
The debate also highlighted how each candidate ties themselves—or distances themselves—from former President Donald Trump. Ciattarelli gave Trump an “A” grade for his time in office, praising his handling of the economy and border. Sherrill gave him an “F,” pointing to policies she said would drive up costs and harm New Jersey projects like the Gateway Tunnel.
“Jack won’t say one cross word about the president, even when he froze Gateway tunnel funding,” Sherrill argued. Ciattarelli countered that the funding freeze was tied to the federal government shutdown, not Trump personally.
Asked whether he considered himself part of the MAGA movement, Ciattarelli said, “I’m part of a New Jersey movement.”
Grading Murphy and Policy Divides
When asked about outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy’s record, Sherrill gave him a “B,” crediting his work on pensions but saying more must be done on affordability, housing, and transit. Ciattarelli, in contrast, gave Murphy an “F,” calling his two terms “the worst governorship of our lifetime.”
The two also sparred on taxes, immigration, abortion, and the rising cost of electricity.
High Stakes in Final Stretch
The bitter tone of the debate reflects just how close the race is expected to be. New Jersey is one of only two states holding gubernatorial elections this year, making it a test of Trump’s strength with national Republicans and Democrats’ ability to hang onto power in blue-leaning states.
With weeks left and millions still pouring into campaign ads, the bruising exchanges on stage Wednesday night may be a preview of what voters will continue to see on their screens and in their mailboxes right up until Election Day.
With some reports suggesting the election costs may reach $200 million, we wonder if it was all worth it.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.