Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli made headlines this week by publicly releasing his tax returns, answering questions raised by Democratic rival Mikie Sherrill and providing voters a detailed look at his financial history. The release included his 2024 tax return along with a comprehensive summary of his taxes dating back to 2012, giving insight into both his professional earnings and his contributions to federal, state, and local revenue.
The disclosure was presented at an office in Clinton, where members of the press were given access to documents showing Ciattarelli’s total income each year, broken down by federal income tax, state income tax, and property taxes. The filings also highlighted his varied career: in addition to serving in the New Jersey Legislature, Ciattarelli was the owner of Galen Publishing, L.L.C., a medical publishing company based in Somerville, worked as an accountant, and briefly taught as an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University.
Ciattarelli’s tax summary revealed the highest earnings during 2017, the year he sold his business, with reported income of approximately $7 million and tax payments totaling roughly $2 million. In 2016, he reported $1.3 million in income with an estimated $534,000 paid in taxes. More recent years show more modest earnings, including $168,000 in 2022 and $343,000 in 2024. Overall, he reported an average effective tax rate of 28 percent over his full-time working years, with a high of 38 percent in 2016, and stated that he has paid nearly $4 million in total taxes since 2012.
Since retiring from full-time business, Ciattarelli has invested a portion of his savings in tax-free New Jersey municipal bonds and said he has declined other business opportunities to focus on his gubernatorial campaign, describing his candidacy as a mission to improve “the state that he loves.”
In conjunction with releasing his own records, Ciattarelli challenged Sherrill to provide greater transparency regarding her taxes. He pointed to her previous disclosure of just two years of tax returns, dating back only to 2023, and criticized her for not providing a more extended record. Sherrill, elected to Congress in 2018, reported combined income for herself and her husband, Jason Hedberg, of approximately $3.2 million in 2024. Most of that total came from Hedberg, who works for UBS Securities, while Sherrill’s congressional salary stands at $174,000 annually. Their federal income tax payments for 2024 totaled around $1.08 million, with New York state taxes of approximately $279,000.
The tax return release adds a new dimension to what is already a high-profile and closely contested race. Ciattarelli’s move positions him as a candidate emphasizing transparency and personal accountability, while also highlighting financial contrasts with Sherrill. Both candidates are now focusing on key issues such as energy costs, economic growth, and voter outreach ahead of the November 4, 2025, general election.
New Jersey voters and political observers will be closely watching how tax transparency, campaign messaging, and contrasting financial records play into the election, particularly in the context of ongoing debates over accountability, public trust, and policy priorities. For continued updates on the gubernatorial race and related political developments, visit Explore New Jersey Politics.
