At First New Jersey Governor Debates, Parties Differ on Policy and in Tone

GALLOWAY, N.J. — After months of a campaign fought largely in town halls and mailboxes and on scattered commercial airwaves, the candidates for governor of New Jersey met here on Tuesday for the first televised primary debates. And while the Republican candidates sparred over tax policy and achievements, the Democratic candidates found themselves largely in agreement.

Voters looking for a substantive debate about the many issues plaguing New Jersey — including critically underfunded pension and school systems, record property taxes and a transportation network on the brink of failure — were treated largely to candidate indictments of Gov. Chris Christie’s stewardship of the state.

In a Democratic debate that was more peaceful than acrid, the candidates transitioned from making biting opening statements to standing in unison in support of legalizing marijuana, supporting alternative energy sources such as wind turbines, paying for the entire school funding formula, investing in the state’s failing infrastructure and countering President Trump.

One of the few divisive moments in the Democratic debate came as Phil Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive and ambassador to Germany who is leading comfortably in early polling, offered his proposal of a public bank, run by the state, as a method to combat unemployment.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/nyregion/new-jersey-governor-primary-debates.html