Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are squaring off in their second and final debate on Wednesday as the two look to succeed term-limited New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) next month.
Anchors from ABC7 New York, 6abc Philadelphia and Noticias Univision 41 will be moderating the debate, which is hosted by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University and will take place at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in New Brunswick, N.J.
The debate will offer the candidates one of their last major opportunities to distinguish themselves before the Nov. 4 election.
Here are five things to watch for ahead of the debate:
How does Sherrill address military record leak, cheating scandal?
The race was shaken recently by news that a branch of the National Archives accidentally leaked too much information regarding Sherrill’s military records, a development that came amid questions around her role in a 1994 cheating scandal at the Naval Academy.
CBS News reported last month that the National Personnel Records Center erred in releasing personal information of Sherrill’s and her family’s to an ally of Ciattarelli. Sherrill has pinned the blame on the Republican candidate’s campaign, going so far as to run an ad attacking Ciattarelli over the issue.
Ciattarelli said during a PIX11 News gubernatorial forum last week that he hadn’t seen the leaked documents himself and wasn’t sure if those materials were obtained through his campaign and leaked to the press.
Around the same time, several news outlets reported that Sherrill hadn’t walked during her commencement ceremony; the New Jersey Democrat said she didn’t walk because she didn’t turn some of her classmates in during the 1994 cheating scandal that rocked the institution. But Ciattarelli has suggested Sherrill isn’t telling the whole truth.
During the PIX11 News gubernatorial forum, Sherrill declined to release her disciplinary record from her time at the Naval Academy and asserted that she’s “been clear on what happened.” One looming question is whether she’ll face further pressure to release her records and how she handles the issue during the debate.
How do the candidates talk about the government shutdown?
Another major question hovering over the debate is how the government shutdown could impact the Garden State.
Amid the government shutdown, the Trump administration announced it would be pausing funding on certain infrastructure projects, including the Hudson River Tunnel Project, colloquially known as the Gateway — a major transit project between New Jersey and New York.
“Roughly $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing based on unconstitutional DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] principles. More info to come soon from @USDOT,” Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote on the social platform X last week ahead of the shutdown.
“Specifically, the Hudson Tunnel Project and the Second Ave Subway,” he added in a separate post.
The Department of Transportation in a separate statement said the project, along with the Second Avenue Subway, was “under administrative review to determine whether any unconstitutional practices are occurring.” It also attacked top Democratic leaders over the shutdown, saying the reviews would take more time because of the stalemate.
Sherrill has repeatedly sought to tie her opponent to President Trump amid frustration over the shutdown, saying during the gubernatorial forum last week, “Jack Ciattarelli just goes along with Trump.”
Ciattarelli, during that same debate, attacked Sherrill for previously voting in favor of continuing resolutions — which allow the government to operate at current levels of funding for a period of time — while voting against them this time around. Democrats want to extend Affordable Health Care subsidies as part of a shutdown deal, while Republicans are pushing for a “clean” bill.
The Republican candidate also brushed off the White House’s handling of the funding to the Gateway, suggesting it was related to the shutdown, not DEI policies, and that the state would receive the money again.
How does Ciattarelli address Trump?
Ciattarelli walked a fine line when it came to Trump during his first debate and last week’s gubernatorial forum. He has complimented the president while also suggesting he would be an independent operator if he was elected to helm the Garden State.
“My job is to advocate for the 9.3 million citizens of this state, and I’ll always do right by the citizens of this state, no matter who occupies the White House,” the Republican candidate said during the first debate, according to The Associated Press.
Despite Trump’s low approval ratings in the state, Ciattarelli has also leaned on his relationship with the president, saying at one point during the PIX11 News forum that he wouldn’t need to sue the White House over the withholding of funds for the Gateway because “I have a relationship with the president, unlike my opponent.”
Does either candidate get a standout moment?
Debates don’t always change the trajectory of the race, but candidates — particularly weeks out from an election — can benefit from a standout moment, which could offer fodder for late advertising, too.
Top of mind in the race is affordability, including property taxes and energy prices. Though the economy always plays a significant role in elections, New Jersey is unique in that it ranks among the top states for highest property taxes, and the Garden State recently saw a 20 percent increase in energy prices.
The debate offers one last major opportunity for each candidate to make their case on why they’re best suited to tackle New Jersey’s needs, including on the state’s affordability crisis.
Will the debate change minds?
While it seems unlikely that the debate will change minds, it does offer the possibility of an embarrassing moment or gaff, something that both candidates will be looking to avoid as they enter the race’s homestretch.
The last debate will also be helpful for voters who have caught on to the race late and may be on the fence, as it’ll provide the last opportunity to see the two candidates side by side, particularly with early voting kicking off later this month.
Source: The Hill
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