New Jersey’s 2025 governor’s race is heating up, and for political reporters, it’s shaping up to be one of the tightest races yet.
At Rowan University’s “Covering The N.J. Governor’s Race: A Reporter’s Roundtable” on Wednesday, Oct. 15, journalists Brent Johnson (NJ.com), Aliya Schneider (The Philadelphia Inquirer), and Charles Stile (NorthJersey.com) peeled back the curtain and provided insight into how local journalists like themselves are covering the political battle between Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill and Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli. A race that is being defined by President Trump, taxes, and social media platforms such as TikTok.
The event was hosted by Rowan’s Department of Political Science and Economics, along with The Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship (RIPPAC) and the Ric Edelman College of Communication, Humanities, and Social Sciences. It offered prospective political science and journalism majors an insight into how both campaigns are using media and messaging to shape voter opinion, and educated them on how journalists are working to keep the facts at the center.
“There are really two issues driving this race,” said Johnson. “Donald Trump and affordability. Sherrill is positioning herself as the one who’ll protect voters from Trump’s chaos, while Ciattarelli is trying to make the case that he’ll make life cheaper in New Jersey.”
Even as the campaigns pour millions into ads, misinformation, and micro-targeted content, the reporters said one of their biggest challenges with this election cycle is simply getting access to the candidates. For instance, Sherrill’s campaign limits press time, while Ciattarelli’s team has been more open with the schedules and availability.
“As a reporter, it’s tough,” said Schneider. “You follow a candidate all day and still might not get a single question in.”
For reporter Brent Johnson, the coverage feels like deja vu, except this time, the spotlight looms larger. The 2025 race, he notes, isn’t just about who will govern the state. It’s become a testing ground for the country’s political pulse and a potential glimpse into what voters may decide come 2026 and beyond.
“I’ve never, in my now 20 years covering politics, seen the two sides dug into their ways so much. You can’t convince anyone of anything in the middle,” said Johnson.
When the floor opened up for questions, students at Rowan didn’t hold back. Reporters were asked which issues are shaping this race. The panelists agreed that it was President Trump and affordability within the state. They noted that New Jerseyans are more concerned about the cost of living as prices on housing have only increased in recent years.
Jack Neary, an 18-year-old history education major, brought up how campaign ads flood his YouTube feed differently than his mother’s, raising concerns about algorithm-driven misinformation.
“It’s maddening, but you’ve got to meet voters where they are at, and that might be on social media platforms like TikTok,” said Johnson.
Students weren’t the only ones chiming in on the conversation either. Chairperson of the Department of Journalism at Rowan University, Kathryn Quigley, shared with the panelists how her journalism students from her News Reporting II class were sent out into the field that morning to conduct man-on-the-street interviews. The students asked students and Glassboro residents about the race, but returned with the fact that others knew little about the governor’s race.
“That’s not surprising. That’s always been the case,” said Stile. “I think that I would say earlier on in my career, there was a higher percentage of engagement by college students. But there’s still a small percentage.”
The conversation closed with one last reminder from the reporters that covering isn’t just about headlines or horse races, but rather accountability
“It’s stressful,” said Johnson. “There’s so much bombast and nuance at the same time. It’s like it’s a lot to wrap your head around.”
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