Key moments from final New Jersey governor's debate between Mikie Sherrill, Jack Ciattarelli

Another topic likely to be raised in the debate stems from two related but separate stories about Sherrill's time in the Navy. One story detailed how Sherrill's mostly unredacted military record was released to a Republican operative close to Ciattarelli's campaign. The other centers on news that Sherrill did not participate in the 1994 graduation from the Naval Academy amid fallout that year from a well-documented cheating scandal.

Sherrill said she was barred from walking because she did not turn in fellow classmates. She still graduated, was commissioned and went on to become a helicopter pilot.

Ciattarelli's campaign has called on her to release additional records to back up that defense, but she has declined.

"If those sealed disciplinary records match Representative Sherrill's current explanation, we are unsure why she would refuse to release the records and put this matter to rest," the campaign said in an email.

In a recent interview, Sherrill said her files show a "record of service."

"I'm certainly not going to allow him," she said, "to rampage through the records of my classmates at the academy."

Instead, Sherrill's campaign has seized on the improper release of information to the National Archives with personal information unredacted.

Her campaign has publicized an inspector general's investigation into the release, and she's published letters online from the archives, including an apology saying the records were given out "in error."

It's not clear whether any of the records the National Archives released in error were related to the reasons she was not allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.

The candidates are taking different approaches on the federal government shutdown, which started last week.

One key difference centers on the Hudson River rail project, which has been decades in the planning and would replace more than century-old tunnels connecting New Jersey and New York City. The Trump administration has used the shutdown as a pretext to freeze funding for the project amid a review of its compliance with the administration's diversity policies.

Sherrill, a four-term congresswoman elected during Trump's first midterm to a longtime GOP-held seat, has advocated for funding throughout her time in office and has sharply criticized the freeze, holding a news conference outside a suburban New York rail station.

She could lean into the effect the shutdown could have on the project, which is continuing work for now, though it's unclear when federal reimbursements might run out if the shutdown drags on.

"Trump has frozen the funding for this all important project. And what has Jack Ciattarelli said? Not much," Sherrill said at the recent event in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.

Ciattarelli has blasted Sherrill as responsible for the shutdown as a member of Congress. Look for him to criticize her for voting for previous continuing resolutions that kept the government open under former President Joe Biden despite voting against the current Republican-backed measure.

Both candidates have spent hours on the road talking to voters across the state.

Some of the big issues for many residents are: making New Jersey more affordable, improving education and protecting children from online abuse.

Other issues include property taxes, transportation and infrastructure.

And while Sherrill paints Ciattarelli as New Jersey's edition of President Donald Trump, Ciattarelli calls her Murphy 2.0.

Both candidates have less than 30 days to sway voters to their sides.

Rider University's Micah Rasmussen joins Eyewitness News ahead of tonight's New Jersey gubernatorial debate.

Supporters from both sides are getting their props into place to have their voice along the street for when audience members arrive.

Law enforcement is also on hand to make sure the area and the venue stay safe.

Wednesday night's debate marks the final debate before the election in November.