A debate Sunday between Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciatarelli in this year’s New Jersey governor’s race took an ugly turn during a question about how to stop escalating political tension and violence. Asked about proposed legislation to make politically-inspired violence a category of hate crime, Sherrill said: “We advocated to the state to make sure not only myself but Jack had more money to support his personal security and my family security as well.” “We all have a responsibility to engage in rhetoric that doesn’t divide us and doesn’t promote hate,” Ciatarelli said. “The answer is yes, I believe we should do that here in New Jersey.” “My opponent, on Friday, went down to Washington, voted yes on a resolution to celebrate Charlie Kirk’s life-but then within minutes sent out a statement that basically condemned him. I think that was wrong,” he also said. “That’s a neat trick-to say you don’t want to divide people, and then in your answer bring up something that’s very divisive,” Sherrill quipped. “I think it’s fair to have free speech, but I think it should go to everyone-Jimmy Kimmel, myself as well.” “She still hasn’t answered your question. We see this time and again in the campaign-generalities, platitudes, ducking the direct question by not giving a direct answer,” Ciatarelli hit back. “My direct answer is: I voted to protect free speech. I voted to end political violence. I also think it’s fair, Jack, to speak up when you disagree with something,” Sherrill said. “And so if you want to stand up and say Martin Luther King was a bad guy, or that women should submit to their husbands-you, Jack, are welcome to do that. And I have the right to say I disagree with it.”

QUESTION: Congresswoman, in recent years and months, politics has grown more divisive, leading to a rise in politically motivated threats and violence. Would you support legislation to make political violence a hate crime? And as governor, what would you do to keep political tensions from escalating? REP. MIKIE SHERRILL: This is something I think about all the time. Everyone in elected office now faces this threat-to themselves, but worse, to their families. We’re all very concerned about it, which is why we advocated to the state to make sure not only myself but Jack had more money to support his personal security and my family security as well. It’s why we continue to work to fight against political hatred. We need to do more, because in this nation we should be able to have free speech. I’ve vowed to defend and fight for free speech my entire life, but it should never devolve into political violence. That is something I’ve also stood against my entire life. I worry very much because now too many people are thinking to themselves, “I’m not sure if I should go into political office. I don’t want to imperil my family.” And that’s why I continue to fight hard to protect people running-to make sure we have free speech in this nation, and we always stand against political violence. JACK CIATTARELLI: I think it’s the responsibility of any public official and candidate for office to engage in rhetoric that doesn’t divide us. My campaign has been about uniting us, not dividing us. I do think we need to take down the temperature a whole lot. So I support the question. A bill was recently introduced in the legislature by one of our Republican state senators-to make political violence a hate crime and put some real legal teeth behind it. I don’t think she answered the question. The answer is yes, I believe we should do that here in New Jersey. Again, we all have a responsibility to engage in rhetoric that doesn’t divide us and doesn’t promote hate. This campaign from the very beginning has had a positive energy about it. It’s about uniting, not dividing. It’s about bringing people together, not dividing us. It’s about people, not power or politics. And my opponent, on Friday, went down to Washington, voted yes on a resolution to celebrate Charlie Kirk’s life-but then within minutes sent out a statement that basically condemned him. I think that was wrong. REP. SHERRILL: That’s a neat trick-to say you don’t want to divide people, and then in your answer bring up something that’s very divisive. Here’s the thing: I care deeply about this country. I stand against political violence. The videos that came out after Charlie Kirk’s shooting were horrific. I feel horrible because my kids have seen them, and I can’t even imagine how the Kirk family feels. That should never happen to anyone because they speak out. I have stood up my entire life. I’ve taken numerous oaths, up to and including offering to die for this country, for free speech. And so I think it’s fair to have free speech, but I think it should go to everyone-Jimmy Kimmel, myself as well. JACK CIATTARELLI: She still hasn’t answered your question. We see this time and again in the campaign-generalities, platitudes, ducking the direct question by not giving a direct answer. REP. SHERRILL: That’s just not true. My direct answer is: I voted to protect free speech. I voted to end political violence. I also think it’s fair, Jack, to speak up when you disagree with something. And so if you want to stand up and say Martin Luther King was a bad guy, or that women should submit to their husbands-you, Jack, are welcome to do that. And I have the right to say I disagree with it.
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