Criticism of National Guard Deployment in New Jersey Gubernatorial Debate

Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate from New Jersey, voiced strong opposition to President Donald Trump’s decision to send National Guard troops to major cities across the country. During a recent debate against Republican contender Jack Ciatarelli, she argued that having military personnel on the streets “makes people less safe.”

Sherrill reiterated her stance, saying, “Military personnel should not be on our streets,” and emphasized this point multiple times. When pressed about how she would respond should Trump send the National Guard to New Jersey, she asserted, “Unless there is an insurrection or some kind of crisis that could call for the National Guard and the President invokes the Insurrection Act, the President is illegally moving the National Guard across the country.” She expressed concerns over the potential misuse of military force under the guise of the Insurrection Act.

Sherrill, drawing from her experience in law enforcement and the military, declared, “I can say this because I’ve worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in law enforcement to keep people safe, and I’ve also worked in the military, which are two very different jobs.” She also criticized the notion of using American cities as “military training grounds,” which she found unacceptable.

On the other side, Ciatarelli challenged Sherrill on safety matters, accusing her of lacking a strong commitment to public safety. He pointed out her vote to eliminate qualified immunity, a legal protection important for local law enforcement, and raised concerns about her potential reappointment of the current attorney general, perceived as anti-police.

In his response to the debate, Ciatarelli expressed confidence in establishing safe communities if he were elected governor. He assured the audience, “We will once again be a state of law and order, and there will be consequences for unruly lawlessness.”