New Jersey Republican Debate Is May 26 At 8 P.M.

NJ PBS, New Jersey’s public television network, will host a live virtual primary debate between the two Republican candidates running for New Jersey governor this year, Jack Ciattarelli and Hirsh Singh.

The debate will be held live Wednesday, May 26 at 8 p.m. and PBS is asking the public to submit questions for the candidates. Questions for the candidates may be submitted via email at NJDecides@njspotlightnews.org. The debate’s editorial team will consider all questions and use them at their discretion throughout the event.

The primary election is June 8.

Ciattarelli, a former Somerset County assemblyman, is widely seen as the Republican establishment's favorite.

Singh is an engineer who was born in Atlantic City, lives in Linwood and graduated from NJIT. He is trying to paint himself as the more pro-Trump Republican and Ciattarelli as too moderate.

Because Ciattarelli is accepting state matching funds for his campaign and because Singh raised enough money in donations, they are required to debate.

A third Republican candidate, Phil Rizzo from Hudson County, failed to qualify for the debates but is currently appealing ELEC’s ruling, NJ.com reported.

The hour-long debate, which will be produced entirely remotely from various locations by the network’s news division, NJ Spotlight News, will be aired live on NJ PBS (check local listings), and streamed on its news website at NJSpotlightNews.org, its NJ Spotlight News YouTube Channel, as well as its social media accounts.

It will be moderated by NJ Spotlight news anchor Briana Vannozzi, senior editor/political writer Colleen O’Dea and senior correspondent David Cruz.

After the debate, Cruz will moderate post-debate analysis in a special edition of his Chat Box series on the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

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