NJ Governor Race Heats Up: Tax Ads and Debate Exchanges Put Candidates’ Tax Plans in Spotlight
At a Sept. 21 debate at Rider University, nominees Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill traded barbs on free speech and political violence while starkly differing on policy — Ciattarelli embraced parts of Trump’s agenda (including backing elements of his budget plan and education changes) and pressed Sherrill over a vote honoring Charlie Kirk, and both condemned political violence. Campaigns have pivoted to taxes and affordability, with Sherrill running “High Tax Jack” ads after a running‑mate remark about taxing millionaires and pledging not to raise the sales tax, while Ciattarelli vows no tax increases and promises income and property tax cuts as voters confront rising energy bills (projected +17–20%); the race is now a toss‑up with Latino voters seen as potentially decisive.
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📌 Key Facts
- The gubernatorial debate was held Sept. 21, 2025, at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J.; it took place under tight security amid national tensions and both candidates publicly condemned political violence while defending free speech.
- Moderators asked about a proposed New Jersey bill to designate political violence as a hate crime; Ciattarelli voiced support and pressed Sherrill for a direct answer, while Sherrill said she would defend free speech even as she condemned violent acts — the exchange referenced controversies such as a House resolution honoring Charlie Kirk and Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension.
- Taxes and affordability dominated the contest: candidates sparred over sales, income and property taxes as well as rising costs (campaigns cited a New Jersey Board of Public Utilities projection that monthly electricity bills could rise 17%–20%).
- Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill ran a digital ad branding Republican Jack Ciattarelli 'High Tax Jack' (seizing on a quote from Ciattarelli’s running mate about taxing millionaires) and issued a campaign pledge that she will not raise the state sales tax if elected.
- Ciattarelli publicly vowed there would be no tax increases under his governorship, said he has a plan to decrease income and property taxes, emphasized local issues (property taxes, public safety, education, energy costs) as central to his campaign, and his campaign pushed back with a dedicated site debunking the 'High Tax Jack' claim.
- Ciattarelli also signaled alignment with parts of former President Trump’s agenda — expressing support for Trump’s budget plan, ending the U.S. Department of Education, and revising vaccine policies — even as he describes himself as independent.
- Reporting on Sherrill highlighted her family’s rising reported wealth (media estimates and disclosures moved from lower ranges in 2019 to multi‑million dollar estimates by 2024, with a Quiver Quantitative estimate of about $14.61 million), citing a 2021 D.C. townhouse purchase (~$1.5M), her husband’s reported income above $2M, and a $400 fine in 2021 for a late STOCK Act disclosure.
- The race is framed as competitive: a new poll shows the New Jersey governor’s race a toss‑up with weeks to go before the Nov. 4, 2025 election; UnidosUS Action Fund is expected to endorse Sherrill, and shifts among Latino voters (including Trump gains in heavily Latino cities like Paterson and Passaic and lower Latino turnout since 2020) are being highlighted as potentially decisive.
📚 Contextual Background
- The Trump administration announced the cancellation of nearly $8 billion in climate-related projects in 16 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.
- Fourteen of the 16 states affected by the cancellations had Democratic governors, while New Hampshire and Vermont had Republican governors.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (2)
New Jersey governor debate revealed truth about Democrat Mikie Sherrill. And it’s not good
"A sharply critical opinion piece argues the first New Jersey gubernatorial debate exposed Rep. Mikie Sherrill's evasiveness, lack of transparency, and fiscal irresponsibility — contrasting her with Jack Ciattarelli, whom the author praises as direct and trustworthy."
Checking in on Virginia and New Jersey
"A political commentary tying the New Jersey governor race (ads, debate fights) and parallel Virginia skirmishes to the larger nationalized dynamic around the government shutdown and culture‑war messaging, arguing campaigns should stop trading partisan blows and focus on concrete local policy solutions."
📰 Sources (7)
Latino voters who backed Trump could be a key factor in NJ governor's race
New information:
- A new poll frames the New Jersey governor's race as a toss‑up with weeks to go until the Nov. 4, 2025 election.
- UnidosUS Action Fund (the political arm of UnidosUS) is expected to endorse Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill.
- Reporting highlights shifts in Latino voting: Trump made significant gains in heavily Latino cities (e.g., Paterson, Passaic) between 2020 and 2024 and turnout among Latino voters declined from 2020 to 2024.
Blue state gubernatorial nominees trade barbs over crucial issue weeks ahead of Election Day
New information:
- Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill launched a digital ad labeling Jack Ciattarelli 'high tax Jack' that spotlights a comment by Ciattarelli’s running mate Jim Gannon.
- Gannon told the lieutenant‑governor debate (quoted) that 'we have to look at' taxing millionaires because they 'many times...are employers,' a line the Sherrill ad seizes on.
- Ciattarelli publicly told Fox News Digital (Oct. 2 interview) he would not raise taxes: 'There will be no tax increases under Governor Ciattarelli' and said he has a specific plan to decrease income and property taxes.
- Sherrill subsequently issued a campaign release committing to not raise the sales tax.
How Mikie Sherrill’s family made millions after she was elected to Congress
New information:
- Quiver Quantitative net‑worth estimate of $14.61 million for Mikie Sherrill.
- Reported net‑worth ranges moved from $730,000–$4.3M in 2019 to $4.8M–$14M in 2024.
- A Washington, D.C. townhouse bought in 2021 for $1.5 million is cited as a major contributor to the wealth increase.
- Noted $400 fine in 2021 for a late STOCK Act disclosure regarding her husband’s stock trades.
- Statement that her husband (banker Jason Hedberg) earns more than $2 million per year.
Affordability takes center stage in New Jersey gubernatorial race as nominees spar over sales tax
New information:
- Sherrill issued a post-debate campaign statement saying she will not raise the state sales tax if elected: "it’s off the table for me and I will not raise the sales tax as your governor."
- Article cites New Jersey Board of Public Utilities projection that monthly electricity bills were expected to rise 17%–20% as of June 1, a concrete affordability data point used in campaign arguments.
- Notes Greater Garden State (DGA-backed) ad branding Ciattarelli "High Tax Jack" and Ciattarelli's campaign response including a dedicated website to debunk the claim.
Republican aiming to flip blue state rips Dem rival for blaming 'everything on Trump’
New information:
- On‑the‑record campaign‑trail interview in Fort Lee (Sept. 24, 2025) where Ciattarelli accused Sherrill of 'blaming everything' on President Trump and offered a pointed flat‑tire metaphor.
- Ciattarelli emphasized local issues (property taxes, public safety, education, energy costs) as central to his campaign and argued they are not driven by the president.
- Details on Ciattarelli's outreach stop: meeting with voters of Korean heritage in Fort Lee and repeated lines used on the primary trail (e.g., the 'drinking game' quip about mentions of Trump).
From Kirk to Kimmel: Fiery NJ debate spotlights political violence and free speech
New information:
- Ciattarelli criticized Sherrill for voting yes on the U.S. House resolution honoring Charlie Kirk and then issuing a statement critical of Kirk’s views.
- Sherrill invoked Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, arguing free speech protections should apply to Kimmel and to herself.
- Moderators asked whether candidates support a New Jersey bill to designate political violence as a hate crime; Ciattarelli voiced support while pressing Sherrill for a direct answer.
- Sherrill’s post‑vote statement on Kirk was quoted: she opposed his ideology but affirmed constitutional free speech protections.
- Both candidates framed broader positions: Ciattarelli emphasized lowering the temperature and unity; Sherrill said she will defend free speech while condemning political violence.
Candidates clash over Trump, costs and political divisions in New Jersey governor's debate
New information:
- Debate date/location: Sept. 21, 2025, Rider University, Lawrenceville, N.J.
- Ciattarelli expressed support for Trump’s budget plan, ending DOE, and revising vaccine policies, while describing himself as independent.
- Both candidates condemned political violence and defended free speech amid tight security following national tensions.