New Jersey Governor’s Debate Live Updates: Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli Face Off in New Brunswick

Ciattarelli began by saying that New Jersey has not recovered from the learning loss experienced during the COVID pandemic. He blamed the governor for closing schools for two years.

“He opened up the nursing homes, where we led the country in nursing home deaths, but he closed the schools for two years,” he said.

He said 50 percent of incoming freshmen at each of the state’s 19 community colleges take remedial courses that don’t qualify for college credit.

“I will also offer school choice, but my opponent will not, because she is from the teachers union, which wants no school choice, no vouchers, no charter schools. I will offer educational choice,” Ciattarelli said.

Sherrill said she will make sure they get better outcomes for children. She said she and her opponent agree that learning loss is a major problem.

“The difference is he’s always been a candidate for governor, and I’ve worked to fix that,” Sherrill said.