New Jersey Gubernatorial Candidates Clash Over Political Violence in Heated First Debate
New Jersey Gubernatorial Candidates Clash Over Political Violence in Heated First Debate
New Jersey’s gubernatorial candidates, Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, engaged in a fiery exchange over political violence during their first debate Sunday at Rider University in Lawrenceville. The debate, coming less than two weeks after the Sept. 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, saw candidates pressed on whether they would support bipartisan legislation to label political violence as a hate crime.
Congresswoman Sherrill emphasized the need for increased security funding for political candidates and a stronger fight against political hatred. “In this nation, we should be able to have free speech,” Sherrill stated, “but it should never devolve into political violence.” She expressed concern that rising violence might deter individuals from seeking public office.
Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker, initially echoed calls for unity, saying, “I do think we need to take down the temperature a whole lot.” He affirmed his support for legislation to classify political violence as a hate crime, promising “real legal teeth behind it.” However, the debate quickly intensified as Ciattarelli accused Sherrill of hypocrisy, alleging she condemned Kirk’s views just minutes after voting for a House resolution honoring his life.
Sherrill retorted sharply, calling Ciattarelli’s accusation “a neat trick to say you don’t want to divide people, and then in your answer bring up something that is very divisive.” She reiterated her stance against political violence and her deep concern for the Kirk family, emphasizing that “it should never happen to anyone because they speak out.” Sherrill also defended her right to disagree with views, stating, “if you want to stand up that Martin Luther King was a bad guy or that women should submit to their husbands, you, Jack, are welcome to do that, and I have the right to say that I disagree with it.”
The moderator’s attempts to move on were met with continued back-and-forth, with Ciattarelli claiming Sherrill avoided direct answers and Sherrill insisting her stance was clear: supporting free speech and opposing political violence while also exercising her right to dissent. The tense exchange reflects the ongoing reckoning in New Jersey over political violence and its charged fallout, which has seen resignations, public disagreements, and canceled memorial events in the wake of Kirk’s death.
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