Jeff Van Drew, Amy Kennedy To Debate Oct. 8

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Jeff Van Drew and Amy Kennedy will debate next week as both run to represent New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District. The debate will take place at 8 p.m. Oct. 8.

The event will air live on NJTV (check local listings), which will stream the debate at NJSpotlightNews.org, its NJ Spotlight News YouTube Channel, as well as its social media accounts. Stockton University will also stream the debate on the Hughes Center website. No public attendees are allowed.

John Froonjian, executive director of Stockton University's William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy, will moderate. Panelists posing questions will include NJTV News Anchor Briana Vannozzi, NJTV News Sr. Correspondent David Cruz and NJ Spotlight Editor-at-large Colleen O’Dea.

The 2nd District race could be one of New Jersey's most competitive at the congressional level. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan newsletter that analyzes elections, considers the race a tossup.

Van Drew is completing his first term as a congressman after serving years in local and state government. He switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party in December.

Kennedy is a former teacher and mental health advocate running for office for the first time. She is the education director for the Kennedy Forum and is married to former U.S. Congressman from Rhode Island Patrick J. Kennedy, son of the late Senator Ted Kennedy.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Ocean City Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.