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New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rep. Mikie Sherrill reaffirmed her accusation on Monday that Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli is “complicit” with opioid manufacturers in the deaths of thousands of New Jersey residents.
During a press conference addressing the state’s opioid crisis, Sherrill criticized Ciattarelli for allegedly seeking ways to facilitate access to harmful drugs through his connections to pharmaceutical-funded training initiatives.
“So you heard it, Jack made millions,” she stated. “The opioid companies made billions, and thousands of New Jerseyans were dying.”
When pressed by a reporter about whether she holds Ciattarelli personally accountable for the opioid fatalities, she initially hesitated but then stated, “I think we’ve laid out the case that Jack is complicit with these opioid companies, in league with these opioid companies.”
When asked directly if she was implying he was responsible for the deaths, Sherrill responded, “I think he is right there with the people that again paid billions of dollars. So I think that the line is pretty clear.”
Sherrill first made these allegations during last week’s gubernatorial debate.
Ciattarelli quickly responded after the debate, announcing plans to file a defamation lawsuit against Sherrill.
“Mikie Sherrill cracked,” said Chris Russell, Ciattarelli’s campaign chief strategist. “In doing so, she claimed — twice — that Jack Ciattarelli ‘killed tens of thousands of people, including children,’ a clearly defamatory attack that shocked the moderators, press, and public alike. In a time where political violence and violent rhetoric are becoming all too prevalent, Mikie Sherrill baselessly and recklessly accusing a political opponent of mass murder in a televised debate crosses the line.”
The Sherrill campaign quickly countered, stating, “Jack’s reaction is to hide behind a lawsuit, not to take responsibility. What’s reckless and irresponsible is Jack Ciattarelli making millions of dollars profiting off the pain of New Jerseyans — publishing misinformation about the dangers of opioid addiction and developing an app to coach patients to ask doctors for more drugs,” said Sean Higgins, communications director for Sherrill’s campaign.
“As he was making millions, the Big Pharma companies made billions, and tens of thousands of New Jerseyans died. He is clearly unfit to lead and protect this state, and owes the people of New Jersey answers,” Higgins added.
Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker and certified public accountant, is making his third consecutive bid for the New Jersey governorship. He gained national attention four years ago when he nearly defeated Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.
Ciattarelli’s ties to opioid manufacturers first emerged during his 2021 campaign when it was revealed that he sold a company that published content promoting opioids as a low-risk treatment for chronic pain in 2017.
At a post-debate news conference, Ciattarelli claimed Sherrill’s attack was “a desperate tactic by a desperate campaign on behalf of a desperate candidate.”
When asked if she had evidence directly linking Ciattarelli to the opioid deaths, Sherrill remarked, “I guess he’s not really expressed anything about this. I think there’s a lot we don’t know. I think he continues to not be very transparent about it.”
New Jersey and Virginia are the only states holding gubernatorial elections the year following a presidential election, attracting significant national attention. This year’s races are seen as crucial early indicators of Trump’s popularity and the political landscape leading up to the next midterm elections.
The winner of next month’s New Jersey election will succeed the term-limited Murphy. While Democrats have traditionally dominated federal and state elections in New Jersey, Republicans have been competitive in gubernatorial races, winning five out of the last ten.
In the 2025 race, historical trends favor both parties. The party that wins the White House often loses the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections the following year, which may benefit Democrats. However, New Jersey Democrats are attempting to defy history, as no party has won three consecutive gubernatorial elections in over sixty years.
