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The candidates for New Jersey governor, Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, will engage in their second and final debate tonight at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. The debate, airing live on ABC's New York and Philadelphia stations, comes as voters begin mailing in ballots ahead of the November 4 election.
The race is closely watched, with polls showing a tight contest. Sherrill, a four-term U.S. House member, and Ciattarelli, a former state Assemblyman, have sparred over various issues, including Sherrill's military records, tax plans, and Ciattarelli's support for President Donald Trump. According to AP News, Sherrill has criticized Ciattarelli's ties to Trump, while Ciattarelli has questioned Sherrill's honesty and her handling of a federal government shutdown.
The debate will cover major issues such as the federal government shutdown, the Hudson River rail project, and New Jersey's high cost of living. As NJ.com reports, the election is considered a bellwether for the first year of Trump's return to the White House, ahead of next year's congressional midterms.
Mail-in voting has already begun, with early in-person voting set to start on October 25. The debate will be streamed online and available with Spanish captioning on WXTV Univision 41 in New York.
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