Jack Ciatarelli, the Republican candidate for governor in New Jersey, shared his thoughts on two issues related to the Trump administration during the final debate before the upcoming election.
He expressed his disagreement with President Trump regarding the completion of offshore wind projects near New Jersey and criticized recent remarks from the president that linked Tylenol usage during pregnancy to autism in children.
“I’m not very happy with the Empire wind farm off the coast of Long Island, and I hope that doesn’t lead to approval of a wind farm off the coast of New Jersey,” Ciatarelli stated after the debate.
He emphasized the need for both federal and state approval for wind farms and expressed his gratitude for the president’s moratorium on such projects along the Jersey Shore.
In May, the Trump administration lifted a work stoppage on a wind farm off Long Island after President Biden raised concerns about the project’s details.
According to reports, Empire Wind is expected to supply 500,000 homes in New York with electricity and deliver 810 megawatts of power to Brooklyn, utilizing up to 130 turbines spread across 80,000 acres.
Ciatarelli’s divergence from the administration’s decision to advance the wind farm was a noteworthy move for a gubernatorial hopeful, yet he remarked that he would still rate Trump’s first eight months in office as an “A.”
“I think everything he’s doing is right,” he mentioned, adding praise for Trump’s handling of the economy and border security.
In contrast, his Democratic rival, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, criticized his stance and questioned his pharmaceutical background during an intense debate, arguing that Ciatarelli “has no intention of standing up to this president.”
Ciatarelli countered by saying that engaging with the president is essential in challenging times, asserting his relationship with Trump while mentioning that the recent comments regarding Tylenol were troubling.
“When we talk about the effects of acetaminophen on people, we need to make sure we have the medical science to substantiate those claims,” he explained.
Last month, Trump warned expecting mothers against taking Tylenol due to its acetaminophen content and suggested that they should refrain from the drug.
The administration also announced that the FDA would update acetaminophen labels to indicate that Tylenol “may pose a significantly increased risk of autism.”
These assertions have been disputed by health experts, who caution that avoiding Tylenol during pregnancy could endanger children’s health.
Ciatarelli’s concerns echoed those of some Republican leaders regarding the president’s claims. Despite having Trump’s backing, recent polls suggest Ciatarelli is behind Sherrill among voters.
A non-partisan report indicated that the gubernatorial race is leaning toward the Democratic Party.
