Bayonne Councilman-at-Large Loyad Booker, the first Black councilman in the Peninsula City’s history, announced on Thursday that he is running for mayor in the non-partisan May 12th, 2026 contest.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
A graduate of Kean University, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Desert Storm, and a retired Bayonne police officer, Booker was elected in 2022 as part of Mayor Jimmy Davis’ ticket.
He won’t be seeking a fourth term next year since he is the Hudson County sheriff-elect, ensuring that Bayonne will elect a new mayor in 2026, with a special election necessary only if the city council does not fill the vacant seat within 30 days.
“I love Bayonne and no one is ever going to stop me from saying that, no matter what happens. The people of this town, I love you, each and every one of you, and that is not a political statement, that is a fact, that is who I am,” Booker said at 439 Broadway.
” … Someone asked me the other day and they said ‘what is my vision of Bayonne?’ Well listen, Bayonne has been moving forward, and myself personally, I have my own ideas. I have ideas of the fact that I want to continue having Bayonne grow.”
He indicated that no one would be forgotten including senior citizens, the mentally ill, and the homeless, also vowing to bring back code enforcement and overseeing smart development, overall working towards making Bayonne the best city in New Jersey.
” … I’ve decided to take a chance with the opportunity given to me, no matter what, I am going to run for mayor of Bayonne 2026,” Booker emphasized to applause.
The citywide representative is the first candidate to announce for the spring 2026 contest, though developer Lance Lucarelli has filed his paperwork with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC).
Former Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski, who lost to Davis in 2022, is also widely expected to run again.
Booker is anticipated to have the support of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO), though they are unlikely to make a formal move any time soon with runoff elections pending in Hoboken and Jersey City.
