Democratic, Republican Candidates for Governor to Debate Back-to-Back at Stockton May 9

For Immediate Release

 

Contact:         Maryjane Briant
                        News and Media Relations Director
                        Galloway, N.J. 08205
                        Maryjane.Briant@stockton.edu
                        (609) 652-4593
                        stockton.edu/media

Galloway, N.J. - Gubernatorial candidates running in the June 6 Primary for the Republican and Democratic Parties’ nominations will debate in two separate forums at Stockton University on Tuesday, May 9.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli of the 16th District, which includes municipalities in Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset counties, will face off for the GOP.

Phil Murphy, a former ambassador to Germany and a financier; state Sen. Ray Lesniak, of the 20th District, which includes several Union County municipalities; Jim Johnson, an attorney and activist who was formerly an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and Under Secretary of the Treasury for Enforcement; and Assemblyman John Wisniewski, of the 19th District, which includes five Middlesex County municipalities, will debate in the Democratic contest.

The university’s William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy will host the N.J. Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) debates at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Campus Center Theatre on Stockton’s main campus, located at 101 Vera King Farris Drive in Galloway, N.J.  The order in which each party will debate is still being determined. Sharon Schulman, executive director the Hughes Center, will moderate.

Overflow space to view the debates will be available in the adjacent Campus Center Event Room, which will accommodate up to 350 additional community members.  

Stockton also will live-stream the debate using Facebook Live.

“The Hughes Center has hosted debates as part of its mission in its nine years of existence,” said Schulman. “Holding the primary debates at Stockton University is a way for the people of South Jersey to hear what our future policy makers have to say, and enable the candidates to reach the southern region of our state.”       

Previously, Stockton University has hosted debates including legislative, congressional and senatorial debates. Its mission includes enabling the citizens of southern New Jersey to connect with their leaders on the local, state and national levels.

 

About the Hughes Center

The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University serves as a catalyst for research, analysis and innovative policy solutions on the economic, social and cultural issues facing New Jersey, and promotes the civic life of New Jersey through engagement, education and research. The center is named for William J. Hughes, whose distinguished career includes service in the U.S. House of Representatives, Ambassador to Panama and as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Stockton. The Hughes Center can be found on Facebook and can be followed on Twitter @hughescenter.