Gubernatorial Election
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Chris Christie
Republican
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Barbara Buono
Democrat
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Republican Candidate: Chris Christie
As incumbent governor, Christie advertises his accomplishments during his first term. He worked on three balanced budgets without raising taxes, put a cap on property taxes, reformed pension funds so they will continue to retain solvency, and cut taxes to increase job growth. Regarding education, he has revised tenure laws, increased education funding, and expanded school choices in the lowest-performing districts. He has also increased health care funding for New Jersey residents, and worked to help New Jersey recover from Hurricane Sandy. Christie also favors mandatory treatment for nonviolent drug offenders rather than allowing them to continue to use drugs through addiction. Lastly, he is a believer in bipartisanship and is willing to work with Democrats and Republicans alike to solve New Jersey’s problems.
For more information about Christie’s platform, visit www.christiefornj.com/about.
Democratic Candidate: Barbara Buono
Buono created an economic plan that proposes to increase workforce training, support small businesses, increase the minimum wage, increase taxes on the wealthy, reduce taxes on working-class families, and repair our infrastructure. She promises to increase education funding and to improve on preschool programs, institute full-day kindergarten, increase the quality of extracurricular activities, and to build new educational facilities for students. Concerning higher education, she wants to expand scholarship programs, create tuition equality, and foster partnerships between universities and businesses in emerging markets. She feels that we can prevent gun violence by instituting universal background checks. She is also an ardent supporter of equal rights for LGBT citizens.
For more information about Buono’s platform, visit www.buonoforgovernor.com/issues.
Debate Dates
Christie and Buono will debate for the first time on October 8, and will debate again on October 15.
Election Date
The gubernatorial election will take place on November 5.
Senate Special Elections
On June 3, 2013, Senator Frank Lautenberg passed away, vacating his senate seat. Governor Christie temporarily appointed New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa to the senate seat. Primary elections took place on August 13, 2013 and the special election will take place on October 16, 2013.
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Steve Lonegan
Republican
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Cory Booker
Democrat
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Republican Candidate: Steve Lonegan
Lonegan supports the repealing of ObamaCare, cutting government spending on welfare programs, staying out of a potential conflict in Syria, and is against NSA spying on American citizens. He opposed the government bailouts and the Common Core curriculum standards. He supports the right of citizens to bear arms and opposes gun control. He is against gay marriage, and is pro-life. He does not want to grant amnesty to illegal aliens, and does not believe in global warming. He also has the conviction that federal courts are promoting big government too much, and believes that we should have a strong national defense without policing the world.
For more information about Lonegan’s platform, visit www.loneganforsenate.com/issues/.
Democratic Candidate: Cory Booker
Booker supports marriage equality for LGBT New Jerseyans, wants to investigate the question of NSA spying on American citizens and to ensure voting rights for everyone. He asserts that he will make economic fairness his number one priority as senator, and that he “will stop at nothing . . . to put New Jerseyans back to work.” He promises to improve K-12 Public education and to make higher education more affordable. He believes that we should work on our sustainability and reduce our impact on global warming. He fully supports President Obama’s Affordable Care Act and believes that everyone should be able to afford excellent healthcare. Furthermore, he believes in a strong military, increasing cyber security, developing clean energy sources, reducing crime, and pushing for equal rights for women.
For more information about Booker’s platform, visit http://www.corybooker.com/vision/.
Debate Dates
Booker and Lonegan first debated on October 4, and the debate was broadcasted on October 6th. Their second debate will be on October 9.
Election Dates
The Senate Special Election will be held on October 16.
Hari Ravichandran
