GOP gubernatorial debates set for May 25-26

Republican gubernatorial candidates Jack Ciattarelli and Hirsh Singh will participate in two hour-long live debates later this month: on Tuesday, May 25 at 7 PM on New Jersey 101.5, and on Wednesday, May 26 on NJ PBS.

The debates come two weeks before the June 8 primary election at a time when many voters may have already cast their ballots by mail.

Ciattarelli, the presumptive nominee, is required to participate in both debates as a condition of his qualification for matching funds under New Jersey’s public financing law.

Singh, a perennial candidate making his fifth bid for public office in four years, qualified under an election law loophole that allowed his father to contribute enough to consider him a self-financer.  This is because the 36-year-old Singh still lives at home with his parents.

Pastor Phil Rizzo is not included in the debate because he failed to qualify for matching funds.  Another candidate, former Franklin Mayor and Somerset County Freeholder Brian D. Levine, did not seek public financing.

Gov. Phil Murphy is not required to debate in the primary since he has no opposition.

No media organizations submitted proposals to sponsor the debates.  The New Jersey Election Law Commission sought volunteers and NJ PBS and New Jersey 101.5 agreed.