Ciattarelli and Sherrill Present their Economic Case to NJ Voters in First Debate

By Jim Pytell, Managing Editor On Sep 21, 2025

With the New Jersey gubernatorial election less than two months away, Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill faced off in the general election’s first debate on Sunday night, with each candidate presenting their plan to tackle some of New Jersey’s biggest economic challenges, including: affordability, energy costs, and government spending.

The 90-minute debate, sponsored by the New Jersey Globe, On New Jersey, and Rider University, featured a town hall-style format with questions from students, faculty, parents, alums, employees, and community members from Rider. 

Unsurprisingly, the topic of affordability was a major theme of the night, with both candidates attempting to convince voters that their path forward is the correct one for one of the least affordable states in the country.

Ciattarelli said that if he is elected governor, he would aim to make all retirement income tax free, freeze property taxes once individuals hit age 70, and allow seniors to deduct 100% of their property taxes on their New Jersey tax return. He also said that he would also look to make the first two years of income post-college tax free in order to help people get started in the state.

“We need to lower the income tax and the property tax in the state. Those are the most burdensome taxes we pay,” Ciattarelli added, citing Pennsylvania’s flat tax of 3% on personal income compared to New Jersey’s highest bracket of 10.75%. He also pointed to Pennsylvania’s property taxes, which he said are about $3,000 less per-home than New Jersey’s.

Ciattarelli also highlighted his desire for a new school funding formula, saying that a more “equitable distribution of state aid to schools” would help to lower the property tax.

Sherrill, who has promised on her campaign website to publish “plain‑language budgets,” create a New Jersey Report Card to track whether state programs are meeting goals, and to give the public tools to monitor spending over time, talked about the need for transparency when it comes to how taxes are being used.

“New Jerseyans need to know where their tax dollars are going,” she said. “They need accountability. They deserve accountability. You shouldn’t have to be a political insider to figure out how the state budget is running or where your money is going.”

On the topic of affordability, she added that she is a supporter of the existing Stay NJ property tax relief program, and the ANCHOR program.

“I am going to be fiscally responsible with your money,” Sherrill said. “I’m going to drive down your costs at every level, and I am going to make sure your kids have great opportunities here in the state of New Jersey.”

On the topic of rent prices, Sherrill said that she wants to put a stop to pricing collusion.

“I am going to drive down rental prices and end the collusion that goes on to drive them up, and will continue to bring more [inventory] to the market so that people will have better rental prices here across the state,” she said.

Ciattarelli pointed to rising property taxes, insurance and energy costs as the major culprits to the state’s rising rental prices.

“From an insurance standpoint specifically, we need more competition,” Ciattarelli said. “We are such a bad state in which to do business that many businesses have left. We need to get more companies to come back here, [including those in the insurance industry].”

He added that if elected governor, he would also pull out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which he said could save $500 million in electricity on day one.

On energy prices, Sherrill said that she is committed to declaring a State of Emergency on utility prices on day one in order to freeze rate hikes for ratepayers.

Sherrill said she wants to build out New Jersey’s energy arsenal to lower prices in the long term, including building new, cheaper, and cleaner energy generation, expanding storage capacity, and modernizing existing natural gas facilities to make them cleaner and more efficient.

“We need to produce power here in our state,” Sherrill said.

She added that she would also require a new level of transparency and accountability from New Jersey utility companies, and the state’s grid operator, PJM.

Ciattarelli placed blame on Gov. Phil Murphy for the increase in energy prices, stating that the governor’s efforts to implement clean energy have backfired, specifically calling out offshore wind.

“Offshore wind is never going to be able to meet our energy needs, and it is going to be very expensive,” Ciattarelli said, adding that he plans to make the temporary pause on wind farms put in effect by the Trump administration permanent.

In her closing statement, Sherrill emphasized that she has a plan to bring down costs.

“I am going to continue to serve this state because I want to drive down your costs,” she said. “Whether it is utility costs, housing costs, or energy costs. At every level I am going to continue to work for you.”

Ciatarrelli focused on change.

“We need a hands-on CEO governor,” he said. “I will responsibly and surgically reduce the size and cost of our state government to afford a tax cut for our citizens and businesses. I believe we can fix the state of New Jersey.”

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