In a debate marked by tension and discord, four leading candidates in the Republican race for New Jersey governor clashed on Tuesday night at Rider University. The event, lasting nearly 100 minutes, saw limited discussion on affordability, a key issue for many in the state.
Former assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli and radio personality Bill Spadea were at the forefront of attempts to discredit each other's support of former President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Sen. Jon Bramnick and former Sen. Ed Durr argued over their respective political positions as the best route to the Statehouse.
Ciattarelli emphasized his previous experience running against Governor Phil Murphy in 2021 as a reason for his candidacy. He criticized both Bramnick and Spadea for their past actions during that campaign. "In 2021, when I was out busting my ass up and down the state eight days a week in all districts, this guy (Bramnick) was entertaining Phil Murphy in his backyard with a barbecue and putting it on the Internet," Ciattarelli stated.
Spadea positioned himself as a proponent of Trump's America First agenda, claiming he would implement it from day one if elected. "Now what we need, and what I have committed to, is to implement the America First agenda on Day One," he said.
Bramnick presented himself as a moderate Republican capable of attracting votes across party lines. "These are very expensive times for our people," Bramnick noted, stressing the need for bipartisan support to win elections.
Durr described himself as an outsider with fresh ideas for New Jersey's governance. "The only way to fix New Jersey is by doing something different. Well, I’m different," Durr declared.
All candidates expressed criticism of New Jersey’s school funding formula and opposed further tax increases under Democratic leadership. Spadea highlighted the need for effective use of tax cuts to attract businesses while Ciattarelli compared New Jersey unfavorably with Pennsylvania's lower business taxes.
NJBIA President Michele Siekerka attended the debate and appreciated hearing from the candidates about their visions for New Jersey's future: “We look forward to continuing to work with all the candidates on both sides of the aisle on issues affecting affordability and regional competitiveness."
The debate was moderated by Laura Jones with panelists including David Wildstein, Joey Fox, Micah Rasmussen, and Matt Rooney contributing questions.
Coverage of Sunday’s Democratic gubernatorial debate at Rider University is also available online along with video coverage of Tuesday's Republican debate provided by ONNJ.
