Shutdown sparks blame fight in New Jersey governor race
The federal shutdown has spilled into the New Jersey governor’s race, with Republican Jack Ciattarelli at an Oct. 8 Rutgers debate accusing Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill of backing continuing resolutions to avert shutdowns under President Biden but opposing them during the current lapse under President Trump. Sherrill pushed back, warning Trump’s policies would create an estimated $5 billion hole in New Jersey’s Medicaid budget, threaten Title I school funding and energy supports that could raise utility costs—an exchange unfolding as the first federal shutdown in seven years centers on expiring ACA premium subsidies.
Politics
Elections
📌 Key Facts
- The shutdown has sparked a blame fight in the New Jersey governor race, highlighted at the Oct. 8 Rutgers debate.
- At the Oct. 8 Rutgers debate, Jack Ciattarelli said Rep. Mikie Sherrill supported continuing resolutions to avert shutdowns under President Biden but voted against similar measures under President Trump during the current shutdown.
- Sherrill countered that President Trump’s policies would create a roughly $5 billion hole in New Jersey’s Medicaid budget.
- Sherrill said about one in three New Jersey children are on Medicaid.
- Sherrill also said Trump is taking away Title I school funding and cutting energy program support, which she said will raise utility costs.
- The article frames the current lapse as the first shutdown in seven years.
- The standoff is described as centering on expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies.
📚 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.
📰 Sources (2)
Ciattarelli hits Sherrill for voting to avert shutdowns under Biden but not Trump
New information:
- At the Oct. 8 Rutgers debate, Jack Ciattarelli said Mikie Sherrill supported continuing resolutions to avert shutdowns under President Biden but voted no under President Trump during the current shutdown.
- Sherrill countered that Trump’s policies would create a roughly $5 billion hole in New Jersey’s Medicaid budget, claimed one‑in‑three NJ children are on Medicaid, and said Trump is taking away Title I school funding and cutting energy program support that will raise utility costs.
- The article frames the current lapse as the first shutdown in seven years and reiterates that the standoff centers on expiring ACA premium subsidies.