Overview

• At Rider University on Sept. 21, the candidates clashed over political violence, rising costs, vaccines and cultural issues in their first general-election debate.
• A Quinnipiac survey of likely voters released days earlier showed Mikie Sherrill leading Jack Ciattarelli 49% to 41%, with a sizable edge among women.
• On surging electricity bills, Sherrill touted a day-one state-of-emergency plan to freeze rate hikes and pressed grid operators, while Ciattarelli vowed to block offshore wind, pull New Jersey from RGGI, reopen plants and expand nuclear and rooftop solar.
• Trump’s presence loomed as Sherrill tied Ciattarelli to the president’s agenda and tariffs, and Ciattarelli defended the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ for its tax provisions, including SALT relief.
• Ad Impact projects roughly $140 million in total advertising this cycle, with more than $91 million already spent by late August in the high-profile contest.