It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's the New Jersey Governor’s Race!
On television and radio, candidates vying for leadership in the Garden State are delivering lengthy discussions.
TroibNews 
The recent mysterious objects hovering over New Jersey have intrigued the nation, sparking numerous conspiracy theories. The rise in drone sightings has provided a prime opportunity for those eyeing the gubernatorial seat in the Garden State, giving candidates free media exposure as the crowded 2025 race intensifies.
With ten major contenders in the mix, candidates are working to present themselves as the ultimate defenders of New Jersey against a perceived drone threat. They are proposing legislation, unveiling comprehensive plans, and visiting affected areas to witness the situation firsthand. They're using their public appearances to showcase their leadership skills amid growing uncertainty and public doubt, even resorting to actions that resemble something out of a movie script.
“As governor I would release emergency funds, get the State Police equipped with the same kind of drones, get them up there in the air. If it's got to be a Star Wars type of encounter, let it be,” Jack Ciattarelli, the 2021 Republican nominee for governor who is running again, remarked in a radio interview last week.
The White House has also addressed the unidentified flying objects.
President Joe Biden stated last week that “there's nothing nefarious” about the drones and assured there’s “so far no sense of danger.” A joint statement from federal agencies described the sightings as a “combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones.” Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration recently imposed a temporary drone ban in several New Jersey communities.
New Jersey Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer, both seen as frontrunners in the Democratic primary, have quickly become sought-after commentators on cable news, seizing the chance to emphasize important components of their political backgrounds.
Gottheimer introduced his own legislative proposal, dubbed the RADAR Act, aiming to secure an additional $25 million in federal grants for law enforcement technology, which could extend beyond just drones. As co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, he promotes centrism as a key aspect of his political brand, often highlighting his collaborative efforts with Republicans, including Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.
“This bipartisan legislation help[s] law enforcement capture what's in the sky so we can respond properly,” he shared in a local television appearance.
Gottheimer made consecutive appearances on CNN and MSNBC prior to a congressional briefing on the drone sightings, urging federal aviation officials to hold a “public briefing” about the temporary drone moratorium. He has also previously called for the FBI and DHS to “safely take down drones that shouldn’t be in our skies” and maintains a “Drone Tips Page” on his Congressional website.
Sherrill presented her own five-part “drone plan of action,” emphasizing her recommendations for government action while highlighting her background as a former Navy helicopter pilot. Her military experience has become a significant aspect of her biography, with her gubernatorial campaign logo featuring a military helicopter. A recent CNN clip even referred to her in the title as a “Former US Navy helicopter commander” rather than a sitting member of Congress.
“We need better coordination and we need a better response — we’re using these like Clinton-era policies for this modern problem and it's not working,” Sherrill expressed during a CNBC appearance centered on drones.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, also running as a Democrat for governor, released a nearly 500-word statement on drones via social media in response to a PMG inquiry. Although he refrained from directly naming Sherrill, he criticized her suggestion for the North American Aerospace Defense Command to oversee the drone response.
“It is a NJ problem and we should keep control of the response with the feds supporting and sharing all info unless it is proven to be foreign actor,” Fulop stated. “Otherwise it is just passing the buck.”
The drone phenomenon has given rise to unfounded theories. Rep. Jeff Van Drew previously speculated that the drones might originate from an “Iranian drone mothership,” a claim dismissed by the Pentagon. Meanwhile, a mayor from a North Jersey town suggested to a local television station that the drones could be connected to missing radioactive materials—referring to cancer screening equipment that federal officials noted poses “very unlikely” risks of permanent injuries.
Above all, the drone situation has enabled gubernatorial candidates to advocate for increased transparency from government agencies, particularly as concerned voters express their doubts online.
“Conspiracies multiply in darkness. When we fail to provide clear and factual information, we allow speculation and fear to fill the void,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a progressive Democrat running for governor, stated in response to PMG. “[A] fellow mayor irresponsibly suggested an unfounded connection to radiative substances in relation to the ongoing drone incidents. This is both reckless and dangerous. In this era of mass misinformation, it is critical that we lead with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to the truth.”
The issue has also become a focal point for state Republicans, who are eager to capitalize on a shift toward conservatism in New Jersey. One Fox News opinion piece claimed that the “great drone scare will flip New Jersey red in 2025.”
GOP state Sen. Jon Bramnick has been actively appearing on media platforms amidst the drone discussion, generating around half a million views from a single News Nation segment. Republicans like Bramnick have emphasized the bipartisan nature of concerns over drones in New Jersey, despite the state's Democratic leanings.
“We now have bipartisan calls for answers about the drones. Federal and State officials are done with the ‘non-answers’ from Washington,” Bramnick—who frequently advocates for bipartisanship—remarked in a recent X post, shortly before federal officials provided input on the origins of the drone sightings. “This is probably the … broadest bipartisan demand from elected officials in decades. I am convinced Washington can no longer be silent.”
President-elect Donald Trump even commented on the drone situation, indicating he canceled a stay at his Bedminster resort due to caution and suggesting that the government possesses more information than has been disclosed. Conservative radio host Bill Spadea, an ardent Trump supporter running for governor, shared a statement regarding Trump’s remarks on drones and frequently brings up the topic on his morning show at NJ 101.5.
“Let's face it, with President Trump canceling his trip and the governor telling us that there's nothing to see, and the feds telling us that the sightings may be stars ... you are right to be concerned,” Spadea stated in a NJ 101.5 post.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
With ten major contenders in the mix, candidates are working to present themselves as the ultimate defenders of New Jersey against a perceived drone threat. They are proposing legislation, unveiling comprehensive plans, and visiting affected areas to witness the situation firsthand. They're using their public appearances to showcase their leadership skills amid growing uncertainty and public doubt, even resorting to actions that resemble something out of a movie script.
“As governor I would release emergency funds, get the State Police equipped with the same kind of drones, get them up there in the air. If it's got to be a Star Wars type of encounter, let it be,” Jack Ciattarelli, the 2021 Republican nominee for governor who is running again, remarked in a radio interview last week.
The White House has also addressed the unidentified flying objects.
President Joe Biden stated last week that “there's nothing nefarious” about the drones and assured there’s “so far no sense of danger.” A joint statement from federal agencies described the sightings as a “combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones.” Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration recently imposed a temporary drone ban in several New Jersey communities.
New Jersey Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer, both seen as frontrunners in the Democratic primary, have quickly become sought-after commentators on cable news, seizing the chance to emphasize important components of their political backgrounds.
Gottheimer introduced his own legislative proposal, dubbed the RADAR Act, aiming to secure an additional $25 million in federal grants for law enforcement technology, which could extend beyond just drones. As co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, he promotes centrism as a key aspect of his political brand, often highlighting his collaborative efforts with Republicans, including Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.
“This bipartisan legislation help[s] law enforcement capture what's in the sky so we can respond properly,” he shared in a local television appearance.
Gottheimer made consecutive appearances on CNN and MSNBC prior to a congressional briefing on the drone sightings, urging federal aviation officials to hold a “public briefing” about the temporary drone moratorium. He has also previously called for the FBI and DHS to “safely take down drones that shouldn’t be in our skies” and maintains a “Drone Tips Page” on his Congressional website.
Sherrill presented her own five-part “drone plan of action,” emphasizing her recommendations for government action while highlighting her background as a former Navy helicopter pilot. Her military experience has become a significant aspect of her biography, with her gubernatorial campaign logo featuring a military helicopter. A recent CNN clip even referred to her in the title as a “Former US Navy helicopter commander” rather than a sitting member of Congress.
“We need better coordination and we need a better response — we’re using these like Clinton-era policies for this modern problem and it's not working,” Sherrill expressed during a CNBC appearance centered on drones.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, also running as a Democrat for governor, released a nearly 500-word statement on drones via social media in response to a PMG inquiry. Although he refrained from directly naming Sherrill, he criticized her suggestion for the North American Aerospace Defense Command to oversee the drone response.
“It is a NJ problem and we should keep control of the response with the feds supporting and sharing all info unless it is proven to be foreign actor,” Fulop stated. “Otherwise it is just passing the buck.”
The drone phenomenon has given rise to unfounded theories. Rep. Jeff Van Drew previously speculated that the drones might originate from an “Iranian drone mothership,” a claim dismissed by the Pentagon. Meanwhile, a mayor from a North Jersey town suggested to a local television station that the drones could be connected to missing radioactive materials—referring to cancer screening equipment that federal officials noted poses “very unlikely” risks of permanent injuries.
Above all, the drone situation has enabled gubernatorial candidates to advocate for increased transparency from government agencies, particularly as concerned voters express their doubts online.
“Conspiracies multiply in darkness. When we fail to provide clear and factual information, we allow speculation and fear to fill the void,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a progressive Democrat running for governor, stated in response to PMG. “[A] fellow mayor irresponsibly suggested an unfounded connection to radiative substances in relation to the ongoing drone incidents. This is both reckless and dangerous. In this era of mass misinformation, it is critical that we lead with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to the truth.”
The issue has also become a focal point for state Republicans, who are eager to capitalize on a shift toward conservatism in New Jersey. One Fox News opinion piece claimed that the “great drone scare will flip New Jersey red in 2025.”
GOP state Sen. Jon Bramnick has been actively appearing on media platforms amidst the drone discussion, generating around half a million views from a single News Nation segment. Republicans like Bramnick have emphasized the bipartisan nature of concerns over drones in New Jersey, despite the state's Democratic leanings.
“We now have bipartisan calls for answers about the drones. Federal and State officials are done with the ‘non-answers’ from Washington,” Bramnick—who frequently advocates for bipartisanship—remarked in a recent X post, shortly before federal officials provided input on the origins of the drone sightings. “This is probably the … broadest bipartisan demand from elected officials in decades. I am convinced Washington can no longer be silent.”
President-elect Donald Trump even commented on the drone situation, indicating he canceled a stay at his Bedminster resort due to caution and suggesting that the government possesses more information than has been disclosed. Conservative radio host Bill Spadea, an ardent Trump supporter running for governor, shared a statement regarding Trump’s remarks on drones and frequently brings up the topic on his morning show at NJ 101.5.
“Let's face it, with President Trump canceling his trip and the governor telling us that there's nothing to see, and the feds telling us that the sightings may be stars ... you are right to be concerned,” Spadea stated in a NJ 101.5 post.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
