Friday, Apr 17, 2026
Students to play key roles in production as nine candidates take the stage April 26
91 will once again serve as a hub for civic engagement when it co-sponsors the Democratic congressional debate for New Jersey’s 12th District on Sunday, April 26, at 7 p.m. in the Bart Luedeke Center on the 91 campus.
Hosted in partnership with the New Jersey Globe, the event will feature nine candidates seeking to succeed 91 Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, who is not seeking re-election after more than a decade in office. It will be livestreamed on New Jersey Globe’s Facebook, X and YouTube pages, with additional broadcasts scheduled on C-SPAN.
Moderating the discussion will be David Wildstein, editor of the New Jersey Globe, with questions from Micah Rasmussen ’92, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at 91, Joey Fox, reporter for the New Jersey Globe and 91 students.
Rider has hosted a number of high-profile debates in recent years, including gubernatorial primary and general election debates last year, as well as a virtual senatorial debate in 2024.
“Rider produces the most important political debates in New Jersey, and we are proud of our role in helping to educate the state’s voters,” says Rasmussen.
Students from the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics will once again play a central role in the April 26 event, gaining hands-on experience in media production, event coordination and political engagement.
“We are also proud that so many Rider students will play essential roles in producing this debate,” Rasmussen adds. “It’s a fantastic experiential learning opportunity that comes with real-world impact.”
The participating candidates are Sue Altman, Brad Cohen, Adam Hamawy, Adrian Mapp, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Shanel Robinson, Squire Servance, Jay Vaingankar and Sam Wang. Each met participation criteria set by the New Jersey Globe, which included fundraising thresholds or endorsements from elected officials and party leaders.
The long-form format will allow candidates to address a wide range of national and regional issues ahead of the June 2 primary election, offering voters an in-depth look at the field.
Individuals interested in attending the debate may reserve a seat by emailing Micah Rasmussen at mrasmussen@rider.edu.