In recent weeks, mysterious objects have been spotted hovering above New Jersey, capturing national attention and igniting a flurry of conspiracy theories. The surge in drone sightings has presented an unexpected opportunity for the candidates of the increasingly competitive 2025 gubernatorial race to seize the media spotlight and amplify their platforms.
With a crowded field of ten major contenders, each candidate is vying to position themselves as the ultimate defender of New Jersey against what they perceive as a drone invasion. They are proposing new legislation, unveiling comprehensive strategies, and venturing into communities to investigate the aerial anomalies. In doing so, they aim to present a vision of decisive leadership amidst uncertainty and public skepticism, even if their actions appear somewhat theatrical.
“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,” stated Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee from 2021, in a recent radio interview.
The White House has also weighed in on the situation. President Joe Biden reassured the public last week, asserting that “there’s nothing nefarious” about the drones and emphasizing that there is “so far no sense of danger.” A joint statement from federal agencies clarified that the sightings are attributed to 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.” In response to the heightened concern, the Federal Aviation Authority has implemented a temporary drone ban in several communities across the state.
New Jersey Representatives Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer, both seen as frontrunners in the Democratic primary, have quickly become sought-after commentators on cable news, using the moment to spotlight significant aspects of their political narratives. Gottheimer has proposed the RADAR Act, calling for legislation that would allocate an additional $25 million in federal grants to enhance local law enforcement technology. Although not exclusively for drones, the act underscores his commitment to bipartisan cooperation, often highlighting his collaboration with Republican Representative Nicole Malliotakis.
“This bipartisan legislation help[s] law enforcement capture what’s in the sky so we can respond properly,” Gottheimer remarked during a recent local television appearance.
The moderate Democrat has made the rounds on CNN and MSNBC ahead of a congressional briefing concerning the drone sightings and has urged federal aviation officials to conduct a “public briefing” regarding the temporary drone moratorium. He has also called for the FBI and DHS to “safely take down drones that shouldn’t be in our skies,” and has established a “Drone Tips Page” on his Congressional website.
Sherrill has articulated her own five-part “drone plan of action,” emphasizing her belief in a more coordinated governmental response, drawing from her experience as a former Navy helicopter pilot. This background has become a cornerstone of her campaign, with her gubernatorial logo prominently featuring a military helicopter. A recent clip shared by CNN even referred to her as a “Former US Navy helicopter commander” rather than simply a 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 asserted during a CNBC segment focused on drones.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, another Democratic gubernatorial candidate, responded to inquiries regarding drones with a nearly 500-word statement on social media. While he refrained from directly naming Sherrill, he criticized her suggestion that the North American Aerospace Defense Command should lead 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 emphasized. “Otherwise it is just passing the buck.”
The drone frenzy has given rise to unfounded theories. Representative Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) previously suggested that the drones could originate from an “Iranian drone mothership,” a claim swiftly dismissed by Pentagon officials. Meanwhile, the mayor of a town in North Jersey speculated to a local television station that the drones might be connected to missing radioactive materials, referencing cancer screening equipment that federal officials assured posed no significant threat.
Above all, the ongoing drone situation has provided gubernatorial candidates with an opportunity to advocate for greater transparency from government agencies, particularly as concerned voters raise questions online.
“Conspiracies multiply in darkness. When we fail to provide clear and factual information, we allow speculation and fear to fill the void,” stated Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a progressive Democrat in the gubernatorial race, in a recent statement. “[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.”
While the issue has predominantly surfaced in Democratic circles, it has also become a focal point for Republicans aiming to capitalize on a perceived shift in New Jersey’s political landscape. A headline on Fox News declared that the “great drone scare will flip New Jersey red in 2025.”
GOP State Senator Jon Bramnick has been active in media discussions surrounding the drone dilemma, garnering significant attention with a recent News Nation appearance that attracted approximately half a million views in a single day. He noted the bipartisan nature of concerns regarding drones in New Jersey, despite the state’s traditionally 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 remarked on social media last week, shortly before federal officials commented 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.”
Even President-elect Donald Trump has entered the discourse, revealing that he canceled a stay at his Bedminster resort out of caution, suggesting that the government may be withholding information. Conservative radio host Bill Spadea, a vocal Trump supporter running for governor, echoed Trump’s sentiments in a statement and frequently discusses the drone situation on his morning radio show on 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 asserted in a post on NJ 101.5.
