NJ Governor Debate Coming To NJPAC In Newark: 2021 Election

NEWARK, NJ — The first of two public debates between Gov. Phil Murphy and former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli will take place in the state’s largest city: Newark.

The verbal showdown between Murphy, the Democratic Party candidate, and Ciattarelli, who earned the Republican nomination in the primary election, will take place at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

New Jersey has one of only two gubernatorial elections in the United States for 2021. It will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

“NJPAC is honored to host what promises to be an engaging and important night for all of New Jersey’s citizens,” said John Schreiber, the arts center’s president and CEO.

“This debate comes on the heels of a deadly pandemic, a renewed push for social justice, and a contentious presidential election,” Schreiber said. “Our community has much to discuss … we know that the eyes of the nation will be on New Jersey during this election.”

The debate will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. on both ABC-owned TV stations in the New York and Philadelphia markets, Univision, WHYY radio and WCTC radio. The debate will also stream across WABC and WPVI’s streaming apps ABC7/WABC-TV New York, and 6ABC/WPVI-TV Philadelphia, respectively, and connected TV apps on streaming platforms Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku and Hulu. Additionally, the debate will stream on NJ Advance Media platforms and NJ.com.

NJPAC’s partners for the debate include WABC-TV, WPVI, Univision65, NJ Advance Media, WHYY_FM radio, WCTC Radio, the Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics and the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration. WBGO Radio in Newark will serve as a partner. NJPAC and Evergreen Partners are producing the debate.

THIRD PARTY/INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES

The upcoming debate at NJPAC doesn’t include any third party or independent candidates for governor, a situation not uncommon in New Jersey, and one that some candidates have lamented in the past.

According to Ballotpedia, other gubernational candidates for 2021 include:

• Madelyn Hoffman (Green Party)
• Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party)
• Justin Maldonado (Independent)
• Gregg Mele (Libertarian Party)
• David Winkler (Independent)

A Rutgers-Eagleton poll released in June said the election is "Murphy's to lose," with 52 percent of registered voters saying they'd cast ballots for the incumbent governor and just 26 percent saying they'd choose Ciattarelli.

However, 21 percent of those polled said they are "on the fence" when it comes to the 2021 governor race in New Jersey, and 31 percent said they'd definitely vote for "someone else" other than Murphy.

"According to recent polls, the people of New Jersey and the rest of the country are looking for an alternative to the Democrats and Republicans," Green Party of New Jersey elections chair Barry Bendar said.

• See related article: Meet 2 Alternatives To Murphy, Ciattarelli: 2021 NJ Governor Race

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