How To Watch NJ Governor Debates For 2025 Election: Sherrill vs. Ciattarelli

The stage is set for a series of debates leading up to the 2025 governor election in New Jersey.

Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli will face off against Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill in two public debates taking place on Sept. 21 and Oct. 8. Their lieutenant governor nominees will debate each other on Sept. 30 (see schedule and viewing information below).

Both candidates were the last ones standing after a competitive primary election on June 10. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, is term-limited and can’t run again this year.

Sherrill is currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 11th district. She recently chose pastor and university president Dale Caldwell as her lieutenant governor nominee. Read More: Sherrill Picks Caldwell As Running Mate For 2025 Election

Ciattarelli is a former state assemblyman from New Jersey. He has picked Morris County Sheriff James Gannon as his lieutenant governor nominee. Read More: Ciattarelli Taps County Sheriff As Running Mate In 2025 Election

Third-party and independent candidates include Vic Kaplan (Libertarian Party), Lily Benavides (Green Party), Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party), Gerardo Cedrone (independent) and Karen Zaletel (independent).

The general election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Learn more about voting in New Jersey here.

• See Related: NJ Democrats Rally Behind Mikie Sherrill After Primary Election
• See Related: Trump Endorses Ciattarelli In NJ Governor Race

HOW TO WATCH THE DEBATES

Under New Jersey law, gubernatorial candidates who qualify for public funding must participate in two general election debates. Their lieutenant governor running mates must participate in one debate. The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission voted to choose sponsors for the debates in July.

Here’s when the debates will take place this year – and how voters can watch them:

Governor Debate #1

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 21 / 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• Place: Rider University in Lawrenceville
• Hosts: NJ Globe, Rider University, On New Jersey
• How To Watch: The debate will be live-streamed by On New Jersey at https://www.onnj.com/ and https://newjerseyglobe.com/, Roku, Fire TV, NewsOn, Samsung TV, and Apple TV. Viewing also is available on YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram and CSPAN. The audio version will be made available to podcast partners Apple, Spotify and iHeart Radio

Lieutenant Governor Debate

• Date: Tuesday, Sept. 30 / 7 to 8 p.m.
• Place: Kean University in Union
• Hosts: PIX11/WPIX-TV; PHL17/WPHL-TV; Kean University; New Jersey 101.5
• How To Watch: A live broadcast of the debate will take place on WPIX and WPHL. It will also be aired live via radio at New Jersey 101.5. The debate also will be live-streamed on PIX11.com, PHL17.com, NJ101.5.com and PIX 11+ (PIX 11’s streaming app).

Governor Debate #2

• Date: Wednesday, Oct. 8 / 7 to 8 p.m.
• Place: New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in New Brunswick
• Hosts: PIX11/WPIX-TV; PHL17/WPHL-TV; Kean University; New Jersey 101.5
• How To Watch: A live broadcast of the debate will take place on both WABC and WPVI. There will be simultaneous streaming on all digital platforms, including websites (abc7ny.com and 6abc.com respectively), mobile apps and streaming channels, for both stations as well as ABC News LIVE. WXTV Univision 41 New York will livestream the debate with Spanish Captioning.

PUBLIC FUNDING

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission recently approved $2.2 million in public matching funds for Sherrill and Ciattarelli (see the breakdown in table below).

The funding was the third disbursement from the state’s Gubernatorial Public Financing Program for the general election. The cumulative total currently stands at $8.1 million.

Under the program, which began in 1974, candidates who raise $580,000 or more can qualify for public matching funds from the state.

General election candidates are eligible this year for up to $12.5 million in public funds. In exchange, other than a few exceptions, they must limit their total general spending to $18.5 million.

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