Last night, Jersey City residents gathered to witness a vibrant debate as Councilwoman Denise Ridley hosted a well-attended Presidential Debate Watch Party. The event, held at Brightside Tavern in Jersey City, drew a crowd of residents eager to engage in the democratic process and witness a crucial presidential debate.

The evening kicked off with a warm welcome from the Councilwoman expressing her gratitude to the community for their participation. “We are here to make sure we are promoting voter education. Thank you for coming together to engage in this important aspect of our democracy,” said Ridley. “We want to make sure Jersey City voters are informed and engaged.” The voter engagement piece was driven home by the presence of the Hudson County Board of Elections. The County representative provided voter registration forms as well as applications for poll workers to attendees.

The event featured a live broadcast of the presidential debate, which was met with enthusiastic responses from the audience. Attendees enjoyed a range of refreshments and participated in lively discussions before and after the debate. The watch party served as a reminder of the importance of local leadership in fostering civic participation. The event was co-sponsored by four non-profit organizations: Ridley Civic Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Hudson County Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Jersey City Chapter, and Ali Leadership Institute. Both Vice President Harris and Councilwoman Ridley are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.,the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African-American college-educated women.

After the event, Councilwoman Ridley provided her thoughts on the debate. “While tonight’s event was non-partisan and open to anyone willing to attend in a respectful manner, it is no secret that I am a strong supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris. Tonight she was tough and poised. She stepped up to the plate and represented the Democratic Party well,” said Councilwoman Ridley. “Now, we must all do our part to help get her over the finish line with a win. I fully intend to do my part in making that happen.”