Voters across South Jersey will have an opportunity to evaluate their candidates for federal office next month when incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Jeff Van Drew meets Democratic challenger Zack Mullock for a broadcast debate. The scheduled exchange will focus on the representation and future leadership of New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District.
The event is set to take place on October 22, with proceedings scheduled to begin promptly at 6 p.m. Stockton University will serve as the host venue for the encounter, welcoming the two candidates to the Campus Center Theatre situated on the university’s Galloway campus.
Organizers have established a one-hour format designed to give the candidates structured time to address pressing regional issues. The program is being coordinated and cosponsored through a collaborative effort between the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University and the regional newspaper *The Press of Atlantic City*.
In accordance with the event's designated format, the debate will be conducted without an in-person spectator audience inside the Campus Center Theatre. Instead, organizers are utilizing digital broadcast avenues to bring the event directly to constituents, providing live video streams via the Hughes Center's official YouTube channel as well as through the website of *The Press of Atlantic City*.
Inquiry and moderation duties will be shared by journalists and public policy professionals from the sponsoring organizations. The panel tasked with directing questions to Van Drew and Mullock includes Alyssa Maurice, who serves as the assistant director for the Hughes Center, alongside Nicholas Huba, the digital editor for *The Press of Atlantic City*.
To ensure regional concerns are incorporated directly into the discussion, the debate sponsors have invited participation from members of the public. Constituents are encouraged to submit their own potential debate questions ahead of the broadcast via email. Submissions can be directed to the Hughes Center at hughescenter@stockton.edu or sent to *The Press of Atlantic City* at newstips@pressofac.com, with organizers requesting that participants include "CD2 Questions" in the email subject line.
The incumbent, Representative Van Drew, enters the debate with several years of federal legislative experience, having served in the United States House of Representatives since 2019. His political trajectory includes a notable shift in party alignment during his congressional tenure; while he originally won election to the House as a Democrat, he transitioned to become a Republican in January 2020.
Prior to entering the federal government, Van Drew built a long career in local and county governance within the South Jersey area. His public service record includes past tenure as the mayor of Dennis Township, along with service as a freeholder in Cape May County. Outside of his work in elected office, Van Drew is a dentist by trade in his private life.
Challenger Zack Mullock brings his own record of municipal governance to the race as the Democratic nominee. Mullock is currently serving in his second term as the mayor of the City of Cape May. Before advancing to the city’s top executive post, he developed municipal leadership experience by serving as a regular member of Cape May’s city council.
The matchup presents voters with two candidates who have established deep political roots in Cape May County municipal administration before stepping onto the congressional campaign stage. Their local backgrounds will be tested against the wide-ranging needs of the broader district during the 60-minute televised discussion.
The 2nd Congressional District encompasses a broad geographic expanse across the southern portion of the state. Its core footprint includes the entirety of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties, making regional matters across the coast and interior communities central to the election.
In addition to encompassing those four entire counties, the congressional district boundaries also stretch to incorporate sections of both Gloucester County and Ocean County. This broad coverage means the candidates must appeal to a diverse cross-section of suburban, rural, and coastal communities.
The upcoming gathering continues Stockton University's tradition of hosting political discourse through the Hughes Center, providing a dedicated platform to examine the policy positions of regional candidates. By partnering with local press, the forum aims to keep regional accountability at the center of the campaign.
With the general election approaching, the October 22 livestreamed session will serve as a definitive joint appearance for both Van Drew and Mullock to outline their visions for South Jersey's representation in the nation's capital.
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