CLEAR STAND OUT: During First Debate, Josh Gottheimer Drives Home Affordability

Only Candidate to Focus on Tax Cuts & Lower Costs Plan 

Highlighted Proven Record as a Problem Solver who Will Get it Done 

“Lower Taxes, Lower Costs” Governor  

TRENTON, NJ—Only one candidate on stage focused repeatedly on voters’ top issue during tonight’s gubernatorial debate—Congressman Josh Gottheimer. Eighty six percent of voters say their family’s income is at or falling behind their cost-of-living. Gottheimer is the one candidate who is laser focused on lowering taxes and costs for Jersey families. Gottheimer is the only Democrat who has released a detailed plan to cut property and income taxes and put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Jersey families.

On stage, Gottheimer shared his vision to cut property taxes, give renters an annual rebate, lower income taxes for families and seniors, and bring jobs to our state—all while protecting our Jersey Values. Some in the political class say that lowering taxes and tackling Jersey’s affordability crisis can’t be done, but Gottheimer has a proven track record of taking on and solving the toughest problems. Tonight, he showed he’s the right leader for Jersey—a tried and true problem solver who fights hard and will work with anyone to get things done.

See below for key moments from tonight’s debate: 

• WATCH: Gottheimer’s opening statement: “I’m running as the ‘Lower Taxes, Lower Costs’ Governor and I put out just a couple weeks ago, a ‘Tax Cut Plan’ that shows how we’re gonna make Jersey more affordable. We’re gonna cut property taxes by about 15%, we’re gonna give seniors a break, and make sure we have a rental rebate to help people who rent, and we’re gonna do everything we can to grow our state and bring more jobs here. We can do this. I’m a problem solver.”
• WATCH: Gottheimer differentiates himself on affordability: “When it comes to choice and the environment, everyone up here shares Democratic values—and that’s a great thing. I’m the only one though who’s actually put out a Tax Cut Plan to tackle the number one issue, I believe, facing families in Jersey…We’ve got to make life more affordable for families.”
• WATCH: Gottheimer touts his record as a Problem Solver: “We got the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill passed, I helped write that and pass that—it’s now building the Gateway Train Tunnel, and fixing our roads and bridges. We expanded the Child Tax Credit, we took on climate change—the largest investments to fight climate change ever—and we even got commonsense gun safety legislation passed. These are things people said were impossible. We can do these things if we focus on it and put our mind to it.”

New Jersey’s Affordability Crisis

• New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.
• Child care costs are the second most expensive in the country.
• Trump’s tariffs will whack Jersey families with an $830 annual tax.
• Rent is up 33% in the last five years across the state.
• Housing prices went up by 11% just last year.
• For the seventh year in a row, New Jersey was the top state for outmigration.

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