Primary elections took place on June 6, 2017. New Jersey utilizes a semi-closed primary system, meaning that only registered party members may vote in primary elections. However,
unaffiliated voters can change their party registration and vote in either party primary on election day. The deadline to file petitions to qualify for primary elections was April 3; eleven contenders submitted petitions satisfying the requirement of 1,000 signatures. On April 18, as is required by the
New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, the candidates'
financial disclosures, showing sources of earned income (e.g. salaries) and
unearned income (e.g. investments), were made public. Gubernatorial primary candidates utilized what is known as the "
matching funds" program. Those who raised at least $430,000 qualified to receive two dollars in public money for every dollar raised privately. State law mandates that any primary candidates who qualify for matching funds must participate in at least two primary debates. Candidates who choose not to seek matching funds but commit to raising and spending at least $430,000 can also participate. As of May 8, primary candidates had received donations from ten states other than New Jersey. The first debates were held on May 9, hosted by
Stockton University. The Republicans debated first followed by the Democrats. The debates were live-streamed on Facebook, the university's website via
Livestream, and on
News 12 New Jersey. The live stream was simulcast in Spanish. The second Democratic debate was held on May 11, the second Republican debate on May 18. They were co-hosted by PBS Member network
NJTV and NJ Spotlight. The Republican debates included two of the five candidates:
Jack Ciattarelli and
Kim Guadagno, who both qualified for matching funds. Hirsh Singh filed a lawsuit to enter the debates, claiming to have raised over $900,000 despite missing a deadline to file; his challenge was rejected by the state courts. The Democratic debates included four of the six candidates:
Jim Johnson,
John Wisniewski (who both qualified for matching funds),
Phil Murphy (who opted out of matching funds but had spent enough to qualify), and
Raymond Lesniak (who did not raise enough to qualify for matching funds but loaned his campaign enough money to qualify for the debates). ==Republican primary==