LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and Republican former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli met Sunday night, Sept. 21, 2025, at Rider University for the first gubernatorial debate of this year’s New Jersey race.

The 90-minute, town hall–style event gave voters a direct look at the candidates’ competing visions on affordability, education, public safety, energy, and political leadership.

From the opening statements, contrasts were sharp. Sherrill highlighted her background as a Navy veteran, federal prosecutor, and mother of four, pledging to “freeze rate hikes on day one” and protect reproductive freedom. She cast Ciattarelli as a career politician aligned with President Donald Trump and out of step with New Jersey families.

Ciattarelli countered by presenting himself as a “hands-on CEO governor” ready to tackle what he called crises in affordability, education, safety, and overdevelopment. “Overwhelmingly, New Jerseyans feel that we’re heading the wrong direction,” he said, outlining tax-cut proposals including making all retirement income tax-free and freezing property taxes for seniors.

The candidates sparred over ties to Trump. Ciattarelli defended the president’s policies on tax deductions and childcare credits, while Sherrill attacked Trump’s tariffs and fiscal record, arguing they hurt New Jersey families. “Jack just says he has nothing he disagrees with Donald Trump on. That’s not leadership,” she charged.

Affordability dominated the night. Sherrill pushed for shared services in schools and municipalities to lower property taxes, while Ciattarelli criticized existing rebate programs as gimmicks. On energy, he pledged to scrap offshore wind projects and revive natural gas and nuclear, while Sherrill said she would declare a state of emergency to freeze utility hikes.

Education was another flashpoint. Sherrill supported school district consolidation to save costs and address segregation, while Ciattarelli resisted compulsory mergers and called for school choice and “high-impact curriculum” to combat learning loss.

The debate also touched on public safety, climate change, political violence, transit woes, and vaccines. Ciattarelli said he supported making political violence a hate crime, while Sherrill emphasized protecting free speech while condemning extremism. On climate change, she pointed to her record on environmental legislation, while he argued for a “rational transition” with natural gas and nuclear.

Both candidates pledged to improve New Jersey Transit, though with different strategies: Sherrill cited her work on the Gateway Tunnel and rail infrastructure, while Ciattarelli proposed consolidating agencies into a “Garden State Transportation Authority.”

With less than two months until Election Day, the debate underscored a stark choice: Sherrill’s pledge to defend rights and freeze costs versus Ciattarelli’s promise of tax cuts and regulatory rollback.

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