The first debates in campaigns for the Democratic and Republican nominations for Governor of New Jersey will take place in February when ten candidates face off for the chance to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy next year.
The Democratic debate will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 7:00 PM on the Rider University campus in Lawrence. Six candidates were invited and confirmed attendance: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, and former Senate President Steve Sweeney.
The Republican debate is set for Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 7:00 PM at Rider. Four candidates were invited and confirmed participation: State Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, former State Sen. Ed Durr, and NJ 101.5 radio host Bill Spadea.
The New Jersey Globe, On New Jersey, and the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University are sponsoring both debates. Save Jersey will also sponsor the Republican debate.
Laura Jones, the host of “New Jersey Politics with Laura Jones,” a weekly public affairs show for MeTV-WJLP and On New Jersey, will serve as the debate moderator. Panelists will include New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein, New Jersey Globe political reporter Joey Fox, and Micah Rasmussen, the director of the Rebovich Institute. Save Jersey Editor Matt Rooney will be a panelist for the Republican debate. Some questions will also come from students at Rider University.
The early debates will come at a time when candidates are seeking to break out of increasingly large fields, and likely without dependence on county organization lines to produce votes. County clerks will commence sending out vote-by-mail ballots in late April.
Both debates will include a limited live audience and be open to credentialed members of the media.
The debates will air live on streaming and social media platforms and last one hour and forty-five minutes. The New Jersey Globe invited candidates based on viable paths to win their party’s nomination.
The Democratic debate immediately follows the Newark Star-Ledger’s final print edition on the morning of February 2, ending the storied newspaper’s 192-year run.
These debates are not connected to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, which requires participation in two debates in the spring as a condition of participating in the New Jersey Gubernatorial Public Financing Program.
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