Democratic Senate Candidate Clarke Calls Out Sen. Bucco for Ducking Debate

Clarke: Bucco is Terrified of His Extreme Anti-Choice Record Being Exposed

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Democratic State Senate candidate Christine Clarke is calling out her opponent, State Senator Anthony Bucco (R-25), for refusing to agree to a nonpartisan debate that would give voters the opportunity to hear from the candidates before the November election. The debate would be moderated by credible, nonpartisan organizations like the League of Women Voters and Morris County NAACP, but Sen. Bucco has not responded to outreach attempts by the League of Women Voters to express a willingness to debate and with an available date.

“It’s abundantly clear why Anthony Bucco doesn’t want to debate me — he’s terrified that his extreme right wing record of denying women their reproductive rights, trying to put doctors who perform abortions in jail, and refusing to protect women who travel to New Jersey for reproductive choice from prosecution in other states, could be exposed to the voters of the 25th District,” said Clarke. “I’m running for State Senate in part to stand up for women’s reproductive rights and stop the government from making decisions about our health care, because the people of Morris and Passaic counties deserve better than to be represented by New Jersey’s most anti-choice, out-of-touch State Senator.”

Christine Clarke is an environmental advocate, grassroots organizer and mother-of-four running for State Senate to build the clean energy economy, protect healthcare privacy, access and autonomy, fight for clean air and water, and lead with empathy and fiscal common sense.

Clarke is up against new-Senate-minority-leader Tony Bucco Jr., a dynasty incumbent who votes against womens’ rights, against LGBTQ rights, against tax fairness, and against leaving education up to education professionals. His New Jersey version of a “Don’t Say Gay” bill like the one in Florida, S2483, threatens the safety of the learning environment for school children. The fetal personhood bill he cosponsored, S673, threatens to jail reproductive healthcare providers for 30 years and impose mandatory penalized reporting on their staff. He also voted against protecting women who come to New Jersey for reproductive healthcare from being extradited to other states where that care is illegal for prosecution.

Clarke is endorsed by a growing number of environmental, union, women’s rights, civic engagement and grassroots organizations. She has lived in Jefferson for 18 years with her husband and four children. Learn more about her at www.clarkeforsenate.com.

The 25th District includes 19 towns in Morris and Passaic counties: Boonton Township, Butler, Dover, Harding, Jefferson Township, Kinnelon, Madison, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Mine Hill, Morristown, Morris Township, Mount Arlington, Randolph, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, Victory Gardens, West Milford and Wharton.