Thursday, Feb 6, 2025
Candidates discuss views on cost of living, immigration, taxes, education, abortion
by Rachel Stengel '14, '20
Ten candidates vying for New Jersey governor took the stage in the Bart Luedeke Center Theater over the course of two evenings. Major topics included the cost of living, immigration, taxes, education and abortion, among other issues important to residents.
The Democratic candidates were up first on Feb. 2. They included Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller and former Senate President Steve Sweeney.
The Republican debate followed on Feb. 4 with candidates State Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, former State Sen. Ed Durr and NJ 101.5 radio host Bill Spadea.
Rider students had the opportunity to ask the candidates their own questions, which focused on the state’s budget, NJ Transit and clean water.
“Events like these are such unique opportunities for our students,” says Micah Rasmussen ’92, the director of Rider’s Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics. “Not only were they able to engage with the candidates, but they also played active roles in the preparation, production and execution of the debates.”
Rasmussen served as a panelist, alongside New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein and New Jersey Globe political reporter Joey Fox. Save Jersey Editor Matt Rooney was also a panelist for the Republican debate.
The debates were sponsored by The New Jersey Globe, On New Jersey and the Rebovich Institute, with Save Jersey as an additional sponsor for the Republican debate. Laura Jones, Emmy Award-winning host of “New Jersey Politics with Laura Jones,” served as the moderator.
Watch replays of the Democratic debate here and the Republican debate here.