Jack Ciattarelli slams Mikie Sherrill in tight New Jersey gubernatorial race

New Jersey GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli called out his opponent, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., during a town hall Saturday, branding her out of step with the Garden State on immigration, policing, taxes and ethics.

“She wants you to believe she’s a Jersey girl. She’s not. She wants you to believe she’s a centrist. She’s not,” Ciattarelli told voters.

The remarks preview Ciattarelli’s closing argument in a tight race for the state’s top post, as he seeks to define Sherrill by tying her to national Democrats and controversies over immigration enforcement, policing and left-wing allies. Both campaigns have been asked for comment.

Ciattarelli charged that Sherrill “supported Joe Biden’s open border policies” and “voted no on the Laken Riley Act.” Sherrill missed the Riley Act vote earlier this year but later said she would have voted no, arguing the measure was overly broad.

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He also accused her of backing policies on transgender athletes, saying “this mother of two daughters voted yes twice to allow biological boys to play in girls’ sports.” Sherrill in fact voted against GOP bills in 2023 and 2025 that would have banned transgender students from competing based on gender identity.

On immigration enforcement and policing, Ciattarelli said Sherrill “supports sanctuary cities” and “voted anti-police… looking to get rid of qualified immunity.” Sherrill has spoken favorably of New Jersey’s 2018 “Immigrant Trust Directive” and supported the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which sought to curtail qualified immunity and policy police unions opposed.

He also attacked the congresswoman’s opposition to the GOP’s 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which raised the SALT deduction cap to $40,000, expanded child credits and eliminated federal taxes on overtime and tips. Sherrill and all House Democrats voted no on the package.

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Democrat Mikie Sherrill responds to questions during the first general election gubernatorial debate with Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli, Sept. 21, in Lawrenceville, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

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