Watch DeGroot Debate Sherrill: 2022 Election Heats Up In NJ-11

NEW JERSEY — U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill faced off against challenger Paul DeGroot on Sunday in the first of three debates leading up to the 2022 general election in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.

The debate was hosted by the New Jersey Globe. Read their recap here, and watch the video below.

Sherrill ran unopposed for the Democratic Party nomination in the primary election. DeGroot battled off several challengers for the Republican Party nod. A third candidate, Joseph Biasco of the Libertarian Party, was not included in Sunday’s debate.

The forum touched on several hot-button topics, including abortion, inflation and crime. Sherrill and DeGroot also sparred over the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap, which has been a leading issue in an area that has some of the highest property taxes in the nation.

DeGroot has been calling for a series of public debates throughout the district, which includes parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties. It was a challenge he renewed last month, reiterating that he is available for a debate in each of the three counties.

Sherrill subsequently announced that she had taken up the challenge; three debates have since been lined up.

Sherrill and DeGroot will debate again at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Drew University in a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. The Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ will hold a third candidate forum on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Reached for comment about his exclusion from the debate, Biasco voiced a concern that other third-party candidates in New Jersey have often brought up.

“The stifling of different or non-conventional views is a tried-and-true tactic of the una-party,” Biasco told Patch. He continued:

“Had I been included I would have addressed several issues. The stolen 2020 election, the war in Ukraine and the ever-looming threat of a nuclear exchange. The poison vaccines and the thousands that might have been saved had they been given therapeutics. The Woke cancel mob that ruthlessly silences opposing views. The perils of globalism and ceding sovereignty.”

• See related article: NJ Gov. Candidate Says $490K Debate Fundraising Quota Is A 'Travesty'
• See related article: Libertarians Standing Tall As Largest Third-Party In New Jersey

NJ-11 ELECTION: QUICK INFO

The 2022 general election takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The early voting period in New Jersey takes place from Oct. 29 to Nov. 6.

According to a statewide summary released on Sept. 1, there were 598,927 registered voters in the 11th district, including 220,435 Democrats, 159,038 Republicans, 1,741 Libertarians and 214,258 voters not affiliated with any party.

The recently redrawn 11th District includes the following municipalities:

• Essex – Belleville, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair (part), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, South Orange, West Caldwell
• Morris – Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham, Chatham Township, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Twp (part), Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Rockaway Township, Victory Gardens
• Passaic – Little Falls, Totowa, Wayne (part), Woodland Park

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