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Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli has seized on Democratic nominee Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s current refusal to rule out elevating New Jersey’s gross sales tax.
Whereas Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli simply pledged towards elevating New Jersey’s 6.625% gross sales tax on the gubernatorial debate stage final weekend, Sherrill mentioned, “I am not going to decide to something proper now, as a result of I am not simply going to inform you what you wish to hear.”
Ciattarelli shortly capitalized on the remark, posting on X later that night, “We simply can’t afford Mikie.”
Each candidates have tried to place their campaigns as the answer to New Jersey’s affordability disaster since securing their social gathering’s nominations this summer season. In line with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, month-to-month electrical energy payments have been anticipated to rise 17% to twenty% as of June 1.
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Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., responds to questions throughout the first basic election gubernatorial debate with Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, N.J. (Noah Okay. Murray/AP Picture)
“Tonight, Mikie outlined her daring imaginative and prescient, starting on Day One with a State of Emergency on Utility Prices to finish the speed hikes and decrease prices,” Sherrill marketing campaign supervisor Alex Ball mentioned in an announcement Sunday.
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Earlier within the debate, Sherrill mentioned her marketing campaign needs a ten% tax hike “off the desk.” However regardless of Sherrill’s dedication to freezing utility price hikes as governor, the Democrat could not lengthen that very same assure to the state’s gross sales tax when requested straight.
“He’ll inform you no matter you wish to hear,” Sherrill mentioned of her opponent. “Properly, I’ll inform you the reality. I’ll be fiscally accountable together with your cash. I’ll drive down your value at each degree. And I am going to verify your children have nice alternatives right here within the state of New Jersey.”
In an announcement after the controversy, Sherrill’s marketing campaign appeared to stroll again her reply on the controversy stage.
“Whereas Jack has repeatedly mentioned a ten% gross sales tax is on the desk, I’ve been very clear on this: it’s off the desk for me and I cannot increase the gross sales tax as your governor,” Sherrill mentioned within the assertion Monday.
Ciattarelli’s marketing campaign strategist Chris Russell advised Fox Information Digital that Sherrill’s remark Sunday proves her plan is to “comply with within the footsteps of Phil Murphy and Trenton Democrats and lift taxes once more.”
New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is interviewed by Fox Information Digital in Pine Hill, N.J., on June 2, 2025. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox Information)
Better Backyard State, a tremendous PAC backed by the Democratic Governors Affiliation, launched an advert final week dubbing Ciattarelli, “Excessive Tax Jack,” for his feedback referencing Tennessee’s “10% gross sales tax on every little thing,” throughout a rally earlier this summer season, in line with The New Jersey Unbiased.
However the Republican nominee rejected the declare on the controversy stage.
“If any of you assume I’ll increase your gross sales tax to 10%, I bought a bridge I wish to promote you for about 50 cents. She is aware of it is a lie. They’re making an attempt to use you. They’re making an attempt to control you. She is aware of she’s in bother on this marketing campaign. So, this marketing campaign goes to misinform you again and again,” Ciattarelli mentioned.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill spoke with reporters after voting at Hillside Elementary College in Montclair, N.J., on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox Information Digital)
Ciattarelli’s marketing campaign additionally created an internet site debunking the Democrats’ assault line towards him.
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The previous New Jersey state consultant, who’s working his third consecutive bid for New Jersey governor, vowed to “reduce the scale and value of the state authorities to afford a tax reduce for everyone,” with a view to lower tax burdens for New Jerseyans.
“We aren’t elevating the gross sales tax right here in New Jersey. What we have to do is decrease the revenue tax and the property tax. Right here in New Jersey, these are probably the most burdensome taxes we pay,” Ciattarelli mentioned.
