Don't miss the Open Mind Lecture with guest lecturer former U.S. Senator and Ambassador Jeff Flake (R-AZ) on Tuesday, September 23 at 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. For over ten years, the Richard D. Heffner Open Mind Lecture series has illuminated critical areas of public policy for the Rutgers University community. This year, the lecture, in collaboration with the Rutgers Democracy Lab, continues the ongoing discussion of civic participation, civil political discourse, and improving democratic engagement. Register today to join the conversation.

This event is open to the public. 

Can we improve the way we vote? And if so, what are our options? Join us at the Eagleton Institute to learn about Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) and how it works with Voter Choice NJ (VCNJ). Plus, participate in VCNJ’s “Rank the Campus,” an interactive voting simulation, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.

This event is in-person, for Rutgers University students only. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Earlier this month, Eagleton Center on the American Governor Director, Kristoffer Shields, presented at the 2025 Joint Policy Forum, co-sponsored by the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits. Speaking to a packed ballroom at the Heldrich in New Brunswick, Shields laid out recent developments and data in NJ gubernatorial politics and provided a preview of the 2025 race, with special attention to competing trends that suggest it should be a close race. He emphasized the importance of the role of the governor in NJ specifically and how attendees can get involved. The annual event included a keynote address by NJ State Senator Britnee Timberlake (D) and panel discussions on voter engagement and on the future of nonprofits in NJ.

It’s 2025 but the 2026 election is already here. Last week, the Center for American Women and Politics launched The Buzz: 2026 Potential Women Candidates, which tracks candidates who are prepping campaigns for Congress, governor, and other statewide executive offices. Women are already launching campaigns that could lead to the first women governor in multiple states, the first Black woman governor in America, and other milestones. The Buzz also provides seat status for these potential candidates, making clear which women are challenging incumbents in their own party, seeking to take on an incumbent of the other party, or taking advantage of an open seat. This list will update regularly as we head into the 2026 midterm, and will eventually transform into the full list of all filed women candidates for these offices as filings are finalized.

“President Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ movement may provoke mixed reactions among New Jersey voters overall, but it certainly has the backing of most of the Republican base here in the Garden State,” said Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. “Historically, moderation and center-right policy have often been a winning ticket for Republicans in New Jersey, but today, both GOP voters and candidates in the state appear to have aligned themselves with the national MAGA brand. Even about a quarter of independents express some level of support for the movement, a critical group for Republican Jack Ciattarelli if he hopes to cross the finish line in November.” 

The Hill | Sherrill leads Ciattarelli in New Jersey governor race, but polls show many undecided

“Sherrill still has the edge, but the important thing to take away here is that the race is competitive and will continue to be in flux, in large part because there are still a notable number of undecideds,” Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, said.

The New York Times | ‘Weak, Woke and Whiny’ No More

There is “this constant sort of, ‘Is this woman strong enough and tough enough, and particularly, to be the head of a state?’” Debbie Walsh, who heads the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, said. Executive offices, like governor and, obviously, president can be particularly challenging. “When you look at research that’s been done about voter attitudes, there’s more of a comfort level with women in legislative positions. It fits the stereotype of women working well together in groups,” she said.

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