Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are facing off in their first of two debates before the New Jersey gubernatorial election.

The candidates are vying to replace the term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy in Trenton for the next four years. The race pits Sherrill — a former Navy pilot who represents parts of Morris, Essex and Passaic counties in the U.S. House — against Ciattarelli, a former Somerset County freeholder and state Assemblymember who ran against Murphy in 2021 .

Ad spending on the race is projected to total around $140 million, according to Ad Impact , a company that tracks and analyzes advertising across TV, digital and streaming. As of Aug. 26, over $91 million had already been spent on the race, far more than the total of $38 million for the entire 202

See Full Page