At the first New Jersey gubernatorial debate, voters were reminded that there’s only one gubernatorial candidate who has pledged not to raise taxes.
At the debate, both candidates were directly asked whether they would commit not to raise the sales tax if elected.
Democrat candidate Mikie Sherill refused, saying, “I’m not going to commit to anything right now.”
Republican Candidate Jack Ciattarelli, on the other hand, gave a quick and decisive answer, “We are not raising the sales tax, here in New Jersey. What we need to do is lower the income tax and the property tax here in New Jersey. Those are the most burdensome taxes we pay.”
Ciattarelli is a two-time signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, first during his 2021 campaign and again in 2025, reaffirming his commitment to oppose any and all tax increases. In contrast, Sherrill has declined to sign the pledge, showing taxpayers that she is unwilling to rule out raising taxes.
Ciattarelli has also proposed significant reforms to New Jersey’s tax structure, including capping property taxes, reducing the Corporation Business Tax by one percent per year for five years, and cutting income taxes for all taxpayers.
Sherill has not proposed any specific changes to New Jersey’s tax structure besides expanding tax credit programs.
New Jersey already bears the burden of having the highest property taxes in America and one of the steepest income tax rates. The Tax Foundation’s 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index ranks New Jersey’s overall tax system as the second worst, trailing only New York.
New Jersey already ranks among the most heavily taxed states in America, yet it remains perpetually broke thanks to a spending addiction in Trenton. Residents pay the highest property taxes in the nation, sky-high income taxes, and one of the steepest state sales tax rates. By all logic, the state should be flush with cash. Instead, under Democrat Governor Phil Murphy, the budget has exploded from $34.7 billion when he took office to $58 billion today, a staggering 60% increase in just eight years. Rather than exercising fiscal discipline, every surge in spending has been accompanied by more taxes piled onto hardworking New Jersey families.
This fall, taxes will once again be front and center in the election. Voters should remember that only one candidate – Jack Ciattarelli – has put in writing his pledge not to raise taxes on the people of New Jersey.