The sharp divides between New Jersey’s candidates for governor in Wednesday night’s second debate were crystallized by the grades each gave President Donald Trump.
Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli said Trump deserved an A. US Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee, gave him an F.
Ciattarelli and Sherrill had a more contentious meeting than their first debate, one that focused as much on Trump and personal controversies as it did local concerns about affordability. The heated attacks presaged a contentious last month of campaigning heading into the November 4 election.
Here are the highlights from Wednesday night’s debate.
Ciattarelli embraces Trump repeatedly
Throughout the evening, Ciattarelli took multiple opportunities to praise the administration’s policies, touting tax reforms in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and saying that he supported Trump’s immigration crackdown. He argued that it would help New Jersey to have a governor who gets along with the president.
Trump improved his margin of defeat in New Jersey by 10 points between his 2020 and 2024 White House campaigns, losing last year by
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