New Jersey’s contenders in the governor’s race are meeting for the final debate of the election on Wednesday — just as Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill appears to have lost significant ground to Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

Polls show a rapidly tightening election in the once deep blue Garden State — and it’s got national Democrats rattled.

The debate begins at 7 p.m. at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center . It will be the largest platform Sherrill (D-NJ) and businessman Ciattarelli get to speak to voters between now and Election Day. 4

Like their first verbal bout in September, Wednesday night is expected to be a fiery and combative showdown, with both candidates setting their sights on a breakthrough moment that could alter the trajectory of the increasingly close race.

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