RACE IS ON: Gubernatorial Candidates to Hold First Debate Over Yom Tov

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli will go head to head in two debates before the election, New Jersey election officials announced.

Murphy and Ciattarelli will debate at 7:00 pm this Tuesday, September 28, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, and again 2 weeks later on Tuesday October 12, 8:00 pm, at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.

Lt. Gov. Shelia Oliver, a Democrat, and Republican Diane Allen will debate on Tuesday October 5th, 7:00 pm, at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

The debates are required by law when candidates receive public matching funds, and both Murphy and Ciattarelli are.

Murphy, who was elected in 2017 after two terms of Republican Chris Christie, is seeking to become the first Democrat to win reelection in New Jersey in more than four decades.

Ciattarelli had a reputation as a moderate in the Legislature but has warmed up to former President Donald Trump. He’s running in part on a platform that Murphy’s policies have made New Jersey, which is known for its high tax rates, less affordable. He’s also criticized Murphy’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly in nursing homes, which were hit hard early on in the pandemic.

Election Day is November 2, but early mail-in ballots will be sent out beginning Sept. 18. For the first time this year, there will be early in-person voting, which runs from October 23 to October 31.