February 5, 2025 –NEWARK, NJ – NJ PBS announced its NJ Spotlight News newsroom will co-host an in-person conversation with New Jersey gubernatorial candidates on Monday, February 10 at 1 p.m. in partnership with Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research (IFH) and the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (New Jersey LCVEF). It will stream live on the NJ Spotlight News YouTube Channel, and the IFH and New Jersey LCVEF websites.

The special event, entitled NJ Decides 2025: Conversation with NJ Gubernatorial Candidates, will be moderated by NJ Spotlight News Anchor Briana Vannozzi and feature issues-driven discussion with NJ Gubernatorial candidates Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Sen. Jon Bramnick (LD-21), Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (CD-11) and NJEA President Sean Spiller. The conversation will be held at Rutgers Institute for Health in New Brunswick.

“This event is a dynamic part of NJ Spotlight News’ ongoing NJ Decides election and political coverage,” said Jamie Kraft, Senior Managing Editor of NJ Spotlight News. “During election cycles, our goal is to offer New Jerseyans as much insight as possible about those running for office and the issues at stake. We are grateful to the gubernatorial candidates who have made themselves available to share their perspectives and to present this discussion in collaboration with Rutgers Institute for Health and the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.”

“Rutgers Institute for Health is honored to host this important conversation on climate and health with New Jersey’s 2025 gubernatorial candidates because climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a health issue,” said Tobias Gerhard, director of Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research. “For 40 years, the Institute has been committed to improving the health of the people of New Jersey and beyond through innovative, collaborative, and impactful health research. We look forward to continuing working with leadership in New Jersey to propose actionable solutions.”

“New Jersey LCV Education Fund is honored to partner with the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research and NJ Spotlight News on this governor candidate’s forum. Our state faces existential challenges, from climate change to lead and PFAS contamination in our water. We look forward to hearing these candidates’ plans to address these challenges and turn them into opportunities—to lower costs for working families, build a healthy, sustainable, and economically prosperous state that works for all New Jersey families,” said Bob Conley, New Jersey LCV Education Fund Chair.

After streaming, NJ Spotlight News plans to broadcast portions of the conversations as special editions of its weeknight newscast, NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi. For additional news about the gubernatorial race and issues throughout the state, follow the NJ Spotlight News team on X (formerly Twitter) @NJSpotlightNews, Facebook and Bluesky.

NJ Spotlight News is an award-winning multiplatform news organization that provides reporting from across all 21 counties in New Jersey and beyond through its NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi newscast on NJ PBS, a robust website, social media platforms, daily newsletters and community engagement events. Learn more at NJSpotlightNews.org.

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ABOUT NJ PBS

NJ PBS, New Jersey’s public media network, brings quality arts, education, and public affairs programming to all 21 counties in the state. Headquartered at the Agnes Varis NJ PBS Studio in Newark, the network offers diverse local programs including Chat Box with David Cruz, Here’s the Story, Drive By History, One-on-One with Steve Adubato, Pathway to Success, Que Pasa, NJ, Soundcheck, State of the Arts, Table for All with Buki Elegbede and Treasures of New Jersey and PBS favorites such as Nature, NOVA, Amanpour and Company and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Its award-winning newsroom, NJ Spotlight News, provides multiplatform reporting from across the Garden State on its weeknight newscast, NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi, and digitally via NJSpotlightNews.org, plus live news specials, community engagement events, podcasts and daily newsletters. The MyNJPBS.org network website offers streaming programs and free digital resources for educators via PBS LearningMedia New Jersey. NJ PBS is operated under an agreement with the state of New Jersey by Public Media NJ, Inc. (PMNJ), a non-profit affiliate of The WNET Group, the parent company of award-winning New York public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21.

ABOUT RUTGERS INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH, HEALTH CARE POLICY AND AGING RESEARCH

Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, a unit within Rutgers Health, advances health and well-being through meaningful, rigorous and impactful research in the critical areas of behavioral health, health services, health disparities, health policy, pharmacoepidemiology, and aging research. For 40 years, the Institute has fostered theory-based research and innovative training and supported collaborative opportunities for investigators across New Jersey and beyond, advancing the translation of knowledge to policy and practice.

ABOUT NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND

The New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund is a non‐profit organization that guides and educates to protect families and communities and safeguard natural resources, now and for future generations. We provide the public, policymakers, and opinion leaders with sound, objective information that encourages strong, equitable and environmentally just solutions.