who won the nj governor debate

The winner of the final New Jersey governor debate was widely considered to be Democrat Mikie Sherrill. She was seen as decisively outperforming Republican Jack Ciattarelli, especially on issues like lowering costs for New Jersey families and challenging Ciattarelli's ties to the opioid crisis. Ciattarelli's defense of former President Trump, including giving Trump an "A" grade for his presidency, was a notable and heavily criticized moment in the debate. Sherrill's performance was characterized as commanding and principled, while Ciattarelli appeared desperate and weak. The debate was contentious, with sharp exchanges on Trump, local issues, and personal accusations, but overall Sherrill was judged the clear winner by observers and the Democratic Party.