At least four of the six members Hudson County Assembly members will run on Jersey City mayor’s gubernatorial ticket next year, regardless of who the Hudson County Democratic Organization decides to endorse.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Those committed to running with Fulop are Assemblywomen Barbara McCann Stamato (D-31) and Jessica Ramirez (D-32), along with Assemblymen John Allen (D-32) and Julio Marenco (D-33).
Assemblyman Will Sampson (D-31), a close ally of Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis who ran with Stamato, and Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez, who ran on state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack’s ticket with Marenco last year, are not joining them for now.
“Regardless of whether or not we run with the HCDO slogan, our ticket will win Hudson County next year and most incumbents will share our campaign slogan,” Fulop began in statement.
“Chairman Vainieri made a commitment that the HCDO would support our campaign, and Chairman Guy informed me on Monday that he has decided to break that promise and cited concerns he apparently now has about transparency and accountability positions I have publicly discussed for months. I have no regrets about saying that the corrupt county line system needs to end, or about endorsing Andy Kim for Senate, or speaking out about OPRA and if that means we have to run with our own ballot slogan, so be it.”
Fulop is steadfast that Hudson County Executive Craig Guy gave him his word that he would endorse his campaign for governor after he was elected the new HCDO chair on Monday, as HCV first reported.
For one reason or another, that didn’t happen and the Jersey City mayor is readying to move forward without the support of the Democratic apparatus home front if need be.
“We need some time to meet with all the leadership in Hudson, without going out on my own, to talk about the race in 2025,” Guy said in response.
His predecessor, North Bergen Department of Public Works Commissioner Anthony Vainieri, had backed Fulop for governor immediately after taking the reigns of the HCDO in 2022 and reiterated this point after giving a de facto endorsement of Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) for Jersey City mayor recently.
“I hope the next chair will continue the support for Mayor Fulop that I started two years ago,” Vainieri said at the time.
A civil war in Hudson County would inevitably lead to chaos for the June 3rd, 2025 primary, potentially pitting allies of Fulop and North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco against the political team aligned with Guy and Stack.
With the expectation that there will be no county lines next year (though it’s still not official), gubernatorial candidates have extra sway in the event that they decide to run a full slate.
Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari and Guttenberg Mayor Wayne Zitt have also committed to running with Fulop next year.
Sources, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said that U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5), who is seeking re-election in November before he is widely believed to announce a run for governor, has already inquired about running with the support of the HCDO.
For the moment, Fulop is in a field of three other declared Democrats: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney.
Senator Brian Stack should not take this lying down. He should find the best Hispanic woman candidate and endorse her for NJ Assembly.
Do it, Brian!
Expect a lot of primaries next year.
Mr. Steve Sweeney. DK him however I recall last time he ran for office he lost handily . Instead a common worker ran against him and won!
Once Sherrill and Gottheimer declare, the calculus changes. The Norcross case hurts Sweeney and Fulop will have to answer some questions about his Cannabis business dealings. This is going to be interesting.