Shutdown sparks blame fight in New Jersey governor race
Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli publicly blamed his Democratic opponent, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, for failing to join bipartisan efforts to avert the federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1, 2025, after she voted against a GOP stopgap. The dispute centers on Democrats’ demand to extend expiring Affordable Care Act premium tax credits—a provision many House Republicans oppose—and the clash has become a prominent campaign theme in the tight New Jersey governor contest with about five weeks before Election Day.
Politics
Elections
🔍 Key Facts
- Federal government funding lapsed early Oct. 1, 2025, triggering a partial shutdown.
- Jack Ciattarelli criticized Rep. Mikie Sherrill in a Fox News Digital interview after she voted against a Republican stopgap that would have averted the lapse.
- Central policy dispute: Democrats insist any stopgap must extend ACA premium tax credits; most House Republicans oppose that extension.
- Setting: Ciattarelli spoke after participating in a candidate forum at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, N.J.
📍 Contextual Background
- The United States federal government entered a partial shutdown on 2025-10-01 after the midnight funding deadline passed with Democrats and Republicans failing to agree on a funding bill.