LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (AP) — Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli sparred over the economy, President Donald Trump’s leadership and political division as they faced off Sunday night for the opening debate in New Jersey’s high-stakes governor’s race.
It was a combative affair for much of the night.
Click to Gallery
This combination photo shows Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., on Capitol Hill, Feb. 13, 2024, in Washington, left, and Republican candidate for Governor Jack Ciattarelli, Sept. 4, 2025, in Garfield, N.J. (AP Photo)
Republican Jack Ciattarelli responds to questions during the first general election gubernatorial debate with Democrat Mikie Sherrill, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Democrat Mikie Sherrill responds to questions during the first general election gubernatorial debate with Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli. Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Republican Jack Ciattarelli responds to questions during the first general election gubernatorial debate with Democrat Mikie Sherrill, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli, left, shake hands with Democratic candidate for governor Mikie Sherrill, right, and before debate Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
This combination photo shows Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., on Capitol Hill, Feb. 13, 2024, in Washington, left, and Republican candidate for Governor Jack Ciattarelli, Sept. 4, 2025, in Garfield, N.J. (AP Photo)
Ciattarelli repeatedly cast his opponent as dishonest and vague, and Sherrill questioned the former CEO’s math skills and fealty to Trump. People in the crowd shouted insults at times and had to be hushed by the moderator.
Security was tight at the town hall-style debate at Rider University, which played out shortly after the memorial for slain conservative leader Charlie Kirk in Arizona.
The tense national climate looms over the contest in New Jersey, which has drawn intense interest from the White House, activists and political leaders on both sides with Election Day just six weeks away.
Long considered a reliably blue state in national elections, New Jersey has swung between Republicans and Democrats during its odd-year gubernatorial elections. Trump lost here by just 6 points last fall, a credit to his appeal among the state’s large working-class population.
Here are some top takeaways from Sunday night’s clash:
Trump, as he often does, played a central role in the debate even while being thousands of miles away at Kirk’s memorial.
Over and over, Sherrill linked Ciattarelli to the Republican president and his far-right MAGA movement and his more controversial policies. It was her most consistent theme throughout the 90-minute debate and underscored the extent to which she hopes to nationalize the state contest.
“He’ll do whatever Trump tells him to do,” Sherrill declared in her opening statement.
Ciattarelli did not criticize Trump or break with the Republican president on any issue, expressing support for his “big, beautiful" budget bill and his plans to end the Department of Education and revise national vaccine policies.
At the same time, he described himself as “independent” and tried to create some space between him and the president at times.
“My job is to advocate for the 9.3 million citizens of this state, and I’ll always do right by the citizens of this state, no matter who occupies the White House,” Ciattarelli said.
Both candidates weighed in on Kirk’s death, condemned political violence and vowed to defend free speech.
And yet there were few moments of unity on a night that was tense from beginning to end and featured several harsh exchanges. At one point, Sherrill questioned her opponent's math skills.
“I can see why your career as a CPA was so short lived, because your math just doesn’t add up, Jack," she jabbed.
Ciattarelli later pushed back: “She knows she’s in trouble in this campaign so this campaign is going to lie to you over and over again."
Kirk’s assassination fueled some of the debate's heaviest moments.
Ciattarelli took aim directly at Sherrill's response to Kirk's murder, charging that she condemned him almost immediately after supporting a resolution to celebrate his life.
“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 slapped back. “I can’t even imagine how the Kirk family feels, and that should never happen to anyone because they speak out.”
She also highlighted some of Kirk’s more divisive rhetoric and referenced ABC's suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after comments that he made about Kirk's killing.
“I think it is fair to have free speech, but I think it should go to everyone, to Jimmy Kimmel and to myself as well,” Sherrill said.
While Election Day is just six weeks away, it was clear that the candidates were still working to introduce themselves to voters who may just be starting to pay attention to the off-year election.
As she has for much of the campaign, Sherrill focused on her background as a Naval Academy graduate and Navy helicopter pilot. She was a federal prosecutor before being elected to Congress in 2018 in a longtime Republican-held district in northern New Jersey.
“I have a different kind of background, so I’m going to be a different kind of governor,” Sherrill said.
Ciattarelli, who is in his third bid for governor, played up his family’s roots in New Jersey, which he says go back a century. A certified public accountant, he owned a medical publishing company that he sold in 2017. He was a local and state elected leader before running for governor in 2017 and 2021.
“New Jersey, we need change. We need a hands-on CEO governor who is from New Jersey that knows exactly what needs to be done and is willing to do it,” Ciattarelli said.
Rising costs were a big focus. And the candidates clashed over what — and who — is to blame.
Sherrill blamed higher prices on the Republican president, his “big, beautiful bill” and his tariffs.
“All he does is say that Trump’s right — it’s okay to drive up your tariffs. It’s okay to have the one big, beautiful bill, which drives up your health care and utility costs,” she said. “Not on my watch.”
Ciattarelli sought to link New Jersey’s high tax rates to the Democrats who have run state government in recent years.
“The Democrats have controlled our state legislature for 25 years,” he said. “The Democrats have controlled the executive branch, the governorship for eight years and look where we are today.”
Republican Jack Ciattarelli responds to questions during the first general election gubernatorial debate with Democrat Mikie Sherrill, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Democrat Mikie Sherrill responds to questions during the first general election gubernatorial debate with Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli. Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Republican Jack Ciattarelli responds to questions during the first general election gubernatorial debate with Democrat Mikie Sherrill, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli, left, shake hands with Democratic candidate for governor Mikie Sherrill, right, and before debate Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
This combination photo shows Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., on Capitol Hill, Feb. 13, 2024, in Washington, left, and Republican candidate for Governor Jack Ciattarelli, Sept. 4, 2025, in Garfield, N.J. (AP Photo)
MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2026--
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced Apartment Collection by Hilton, a new lodging category within Hilton's growing collection brand portfolio – offering unique, spacious furnished apartments with the trusted hospitality and reliability guests expect from Hilton. Apartment Collection by Hilton will be available for booking through Hilton channels in the first half of 2026, with initial properties in the U.S. launched in partnership with Placemakr—a leading apartment hospitality brand and operator specializing in flexible, short-term and extended-stay accommodations in urban and suburban markets, with nearly a decade of experience integrating innovative hospitality solutions and trusted service.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260115804669/en/
The launch of Apartment Collection by Hilton allows the company to build on its existing global inventory of approximately 10,000 apartment-style units, adding as many as 3,000 new units through its partnership with Placemakr. Hilton expects to significantly grow its apartment-style inventory over the next few years through this new partnership and through additional franchise agreements with new owners in the multi-family segment.
Designed to provide flexibility for guests to stay their way, Apartment Collection by Hilton offers studio to four-bedroom furnished apartments for a variety of stay occasions — from a family getaway or friends’ reunion to an extended work trip where business travelers need comfort and consistency. Featuring chef-ready kitchens, spacious separate living areas, and on-site laundry, each distinct property is located in the heart of sought-after destinations – offering guests easy access to both must-go-to destinations and unique, under-the-radar gems. Each stay delivers an elevated experience that captures the local character of its surroundings, with the convenience and smart amenities of apartment-style living. Guests will be thoughtfully hosted, with dedicated team members available on-site 24/7 to provide support and ensure guests feel cared for.
To bring this vision to life, Hilton is launching this brand in partnership with Placemakr—a leading brand and management company in the furnished and unfurnished apartment sectors. Placemakr’s proven operational model brings deep multi-family expertise to launch Hilton’s growth in this expanding segment. Placemakr has leveraged organic growth and asset-light management agreements with its business model and is centered on partnering with multi-family building owners to convert either an entire building or a subset of units in an apartment building into furnished short-term rentals. Through the partnership with Placemakr, as well as with relationships with multi-family owners, Hilton expects to see strong growth for the brand, given the popularity of the apartment-style hospitality market.
“Apartment Collection by Hilton represents the next chapter in Hilton’s growth story and the ways we are evolving to meet growing guest demand for this dynamic segment of hospitality,” said Chris Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton. “With this new brand, we are continuing to pioneer the future of the hospitality industry, giving guests even more ways to choose Hilton for every stay, backed by our service and reliability.”
Powered by Hilton’s trusted brand standards, Apartment Collection by Hilton will maintain consistent quality across every property, with every stay integrated into Hilton’s booking and loyalty systems, ensuring reliability and peace of mind for guests and owners alike. In the first half of 2026, travelers will be able to book stays via Hilton.com at Apartment Collection by Hilton in destinations including New York City, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta.
“After an extensive search, Hilton is proud to partner with Placemakr to introduce Hilton’s new lodging category,” said Chris Silcock, president, global brands and commercial services, Hilton. “We’ve long seen the opportunity to deliver hospitality-driven apartment stays, offering spacious accommodations, thoughtful amenities, and authentic connections to local neighborhoods, and Placemakr shares that vision. For nearly a decade, they’ve demonstrated a strong commitment to guests through high product standards and exceptional service.”
Each Apartment Collection by Hilton property will be thoughtfully designed to support guests’ routines and provide flexible spaces for real life. Guests will also enjoy access to fitness centers and select properties may also feature rooftop pools and terraces, communal gathering and workspaces, and on-site dining and retail.
“Placemakr is proud to bring our deep expertise in the furnished apartment space to this innovative new brand with Hilton,” said Bao Vuong, co-founder and president, Placemakr. “We’re thrilled for Hilton guests and Hilton Honors members to experience what we’ve built over the past decade. We’ve pioneered the furnished apartments asset class property by property, stay by stay, and to continue that work alongside the world’s most valuable hotel brand is so exciting.”
“We’re also excited for what this means for our real estate partners,” added Jason Fudin, co-founder and CEO, Placemakr. “Hilton’s industry-leading commercial engine and scale will help create even more value for our partners while accelerating our mission to maximize the value of real estate through flexibility. This marks a new chapter in flexible real estate, and we couldn’t be more excited.”
Apartment Collection by Hilton will participate in Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program with more than 235 million members for Hilton’s portfolio of world-class brands. Members will be able to book, earn and redeem Hilton Honors Points for stays through Hilton’s direct channels and have access to instant benefits, including exclusive member discounts and free standard Wi-Fi.
PJT Partners and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC were the strategic financial advisors on this partnership for Hilton and Placemakr, respectively.
For more information, visit Stories From Hilton.
About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 26 world-class brands comprising 9,000 properties and over 1.3 million rooms, in 141 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, was named the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune and has been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 235 million Hilton Honors members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook,X, LinkedIn,Instagram and YouTube.
About Placemakr
Placemakr is a hospitality brand and management company focused on the furnished apartment space. The company transforms multifamily properties into a unique blend of apartment living and hospitality and has been the pioneer of the flexible living asset class. Placemakr's innovative tech-enabled platform provides an unmatched experience for its guests and residents, combining the advantages of apartment living with the services and reliability of a hotel, all within a single building. Placemakr's thoughtfully curated spaces in carefully selected neighborhoods offer guests and residents the flexibility to stay for a night, a year, or any duration in between.
Hilton Introduces Apartment Collection by Hilton: Furnished Apartment Accommodations, Hosted by Hilton
