NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- With less than a month to go until election day, the candidates running for governor of New Jersey faced off for their final debate.
Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli took the stage for one hour in the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in Middlesex County.
The candidates debated the biggest issues facing the Garden State such as the high cost of living, the government shutdown, immigration and political tension across the country.
Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter and WPVI-TV anchor Tamala Edwards moderated the debate. Our coverage is provided in partnership with WPVI-TV and Univision 41.
When asked to say one nice thing about their opponent, both candidates commended the other for military service.
Sherrill: "I really appreciate that his son is serving."
Ciattarelli returning the compliment, "I appreciate her military service."
When asked by Bill Ritter if there was anything else, both candidates simply smiled.
Ciattarelli started by saying that New Jersey has not recovered from the learning loss experienced during the COVID pandemic. He blamed the governor for shutting down schools for two years.
"He opened up the nursing homes where we led the nation in nursing home deaths but closed the schools for two years," he said.
He said 50% of incoming freshman at every one of the state's 19 community colleges are taking remedial courses that don't qualify for college credit.
"I'm also going to provide school choice, my opponent will not, because she's owned by the teacher's union, who does not want school choice, no vouchers, no charter schools, I will provide educational choice," Ciattarelli said.
Sherrill said she will make sure they are driving in better results for children. She said both she and her opponent agree that learning loss is a huge issue.
"The difference is he has been a perennial gubernatorial candidate, I've been actually working to address that," Sherrill said.
Not likely.
In a rare moment, both candidates agreed they would not support a law allowing New Jerseyans to pump their own gas.
Sherrill: "I think a lot of people really love our state laws as they are."
Ciattarelli agreed. "One of our special, special differences here in New Jersey: we don't have to pump our own gas," Ciattarelli said, "We'll continue to have full service."
Sherrill slammed Ciattarelli during a heated exchange over his prior business. "He made his millions by working with some of the worst offenders in saying opioids were safe," Sherrill said, "while tens of thousands of New Jerseyans died."
That was followed by a fiery back-and-forth; "Shame on you," both candidates retorted.
Ciattarelli fired back shortly after, saying, "I got to walk at my college graduation, I never broke the law," referring to the release of Sherrill's military records, which included references to a high-profile cheating scandal.
