As New Jersey heads toward the November 2025 general election, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli has been making headlines with a series of debates, endorsements, and strategic campaign decisions aimed at challenging Democrat Mikie Sherrill. The race is shaping up as one of the most closely watched contests in the state, with both candidates navigating a competitive political landscape.
Ciattarelli participated in his first general election debate against Sherrill on September 21 at Rider University. He emphasized issues tied to affordability and cost of living, criticizing eight years of Democratic leadership under Governor Phil Murphy for driving up taxes and creating economic pressures for New Jersey families. During the debate, Ciattarelli reaffirmed his plan to repeal the Immigrant Trust Directive on his first day in office, a policy that limits cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. He also advocated for a regional approach to affordable housing, opposing state-mandated quotas for individual municipalities.
The debate included a controversial moment when Ciattarelli interjected a comment about transgender students in sports while discussing vaccines, drawing boos from the audience. Beyond the debates, Ciattarelli has focused campaign messaging on pocketbook issues, such as rising costs and criticizing Sherrill’s energy policies, arguing that his alignment with former President Donald Trump benefits New Jersey through shared positions on offshore wind and congestion pricing.
Campaign strategy has also included tactical selections for leadership. In July, Ciattarelli announced Morris County Sheriff James Gannon as his running mate, a move aimed at appealing to voters in Sherrill’s district while strengthening his law-and-order credentials. The campaign has emphasized law enforcement support, reinforced by a series of notable endorsements. On September 23, Ciattarelli received the backing of a major New Jersey police union, a significant shift in a state that typically leans Democratic. This momentum was further bolstered by the endorsement of the New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police (NJFOP), a union that had not supported him in 2021. Ciattarelli publicly praised the NJFOP’s leadership and membership, committing to restore respect for law enforcement, improve recruitment and retention, and ensure that officers and their families receive strong support from the governor’s office and statewide administration.
Polling data in September indicates a competitive race. Independent surveys have shown Sherrill maintaining a lead, with a Quinnipiac University poll from September 17 showing her ahead by eight points among likely voters. However, an internal Ciattarelli campaign poll released later in the month suggested a tighter contest, with the Republican nominee holding a narrow single-point lead, highlighting the potential volatility of the race as it heads into the final months.
Ciattarelli’s campaign strategy combines appeals to law enforcement, fiscal responsibility, and alignment with broader national Republican priorities. His endorsements, debate performance, and strategic running mate selection suggest a focused effort to expand his appeal across key regions and demographic groups. Observers note that the outcome may hinge on turnout, particularly among suburban and independent voters, as well as the resonance of messages related to public safety, economic pressures, and statewide policy priorities.
Key Takeaways for Voters
Jack Ciattarelli’s campaign emphasizes law enforcement, affordability, and targeted policy changes, giving voters a clear sense of his priorities should he win the governor’s seat. His backing by major police unions highlights a focus on public safety and restoring support for officers, which may resonate with communities concerned about crime and local policing.
On economic issues, Ciattarelli’s messaging centers on lowering living costs and addressing taxes, with a promise to challenge policies from prior Democratic administrations that he views as burdensome. His approach to housing policy, advocating regional solutions rather than mandated municipal quotas, reflects an effort to balance development needs with local control.
Health and education policy are also in focus, with Ciattarelli reiterating positions on vaccine access and directives affecting schools, showing how state-level leadership can directly influence community programs. His alignment with former President Donald Trump signals that his campaign is combining national Republican priorities with state-specific concerns, potentially appealing to conservative and swing voters alike.
The upcoming weeks will be critical, as debates, endorsements, and grassroots outreach continue to shape voter perceptions. Residents looking to make informed decisions may want to closely monitor campaign developments, local polling, and policy proposals to understand how each candidate’s platform could impact daily life in New Jersey.
What are the key differences between Sherrill and Ciattarelli’s platforms?
Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli differ significantly on key issues, with Sherrill generally advocating for the expansion of progressive state policies and Ciattarelli proposing cuts to state government and the reversal of several Democratic-led initiatives
. Their first debate highlighted these stark contrasts on topics ranging from affordability and taxes to energy and abortion.
Economy and taxes
| Issue | Mikie Sherrill | Jack Ciattarelli |
|---|---|---|
| Taxes | Supports existing programs like ANCHOR and Stay NJ, which caps property taxes for seniors. She emphasizes government accountability through an online budget tool and aims to find savings in state health care plans to pass on to taxpayers. She has not committed to not raising the state sales tax, instead focusing on cost-cutting measures. | Aims to reduce the overall tax burden by cutting state spending and lowering taxes. Proposes capping property taxes as a percentage of a home’s value and making all retirement income tax-free. He pledges not to raise the sales tax. |
| Affordability | Highlights her “Affordability Agenda” focused on six areas: housing, energy, health care, taxes, child care, and food prices. She promises to declare a state of emergency to freeze utility rate hikes. | Argues that New Jersey’s high taxes under Democratic leadership are the root cause of the state’s affordability crisis. He supports tax cuts for individuals and businesses to improve the economy. |
Energy and environment
| Issue | Mikie Sherrill | Jack Ciattarelli |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Pledges to address rising utility costs by freezing rate hikes and building out cheaper and cleaner power generation, including solar, nuclear, and battery storage. | Advocates for an “all-of-the-above” energy policy and opposes offshore wind farms. He also plans to withdraw New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which controls carbon emissions. |
| Environmental mandates | Supports New Jersey’s goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2035. | Would repeal mandates on electric vehicle sales and appliances, arguing they increase costs for residents. He also plans to make plastic shopping bags legal again. |
Immigration and public safety
| Issue | Mikie Sherrill | Jack Ciattarelli |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration | Said she will ensure New Jersey “is following the law and the Constitution,” and has supported the state’s “sanctuary” policies. | Pledges to repeal the Immigrant Trust Directive on his first day in office and prohibit municipalities from declaring themselves “sanctuary cities”. |
| Public Safety | Supports police funding and has worked with law enforcement to combat issues like auto theft. | Vows to address public safety by repealing bail reform loopholes and reining in Civilian Review Boards. |
Education and housing
| Issue | Mikie Sherrill | Jack Ciattarelli |
|---|---|---|
| Education | Supports increasing charter school options but opposes forcing school district consolidations. Supports banning cellphones during class and increasing mental health counselors. | Favors school choice through vouchers and charters and would reform the school funding formula to allow funding to follow the student. He would also reform requirements for sexual and social education to make it “age-appropriate”. |
| Affordable Housing | Supports expanding affordable housing, including through promoting transit-oriented development. | Calls for a regional, rather than municipal, approach to affordable housing, opposing state-mandated quotas. He has argued the current mandate leads to overdevelopment and higher property taxes. |
Social issues
| Issue | Mikie Sherrill | Jack Ciattarelli |
|---|---|---|
| Abortion | Supports enshrining abortion rights into the State Constitution. | Supports banning elective abortions after 20 weeks and parental notification for minors seeking an abortion. |
| LGBTQ+ Issues | A supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. | Opposes the state’s current policies on gender identity in schools, including keeping it from parents. He also opposes transgender students participating in female sports. |
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