Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop is entertaining the possibility of running for governor without party lines in the June 3rd, 2025 primary if other candidates join him.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Fulop, who called for abolishing party lines back in October, intimated he’d like to see U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3), a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, prevail in his lawsuit to end the practice that allows a specific type of ballot bracketing to occur.
“Look, I’ve been very clear that I think that block ballots, which is everybody running for as a candidate in a group together – not in a line format – is in the best interests of the residents of New Jersey,” he said in an interview at a fundraiser at the Chandelier restaurant in Bayonne last night.
“We’re the only state that does it this way and I think it’s reasonable for us to be consistent with everybody else in the country. I think change is inevitable and I think we’d all be better if we embraced the fact that it’s coming and get ahead of it.”
When asked if he’d consider running without county organizational lines in 2025 in the event that Kim’s lawsuit is not resolved in short order, the mayor played it coy.
“We’ll see about that,” he said with a smile, repeating the phrase one more time when asked if he cared to elaborate.
Earlier this month, Fulop said in an in-depth sit down interview that Kim vs. First Lady Tammy Murphy, the latter who he endorsed along with the Hudson County Democratic Organization back in November, for the U.S. Senate seat will test the county lines.
This morning, he took things a step further, posting on social media that he would run without any party lines (he currently has Hudson and Warren Counties) next year if the majority of the other candidates agreed to do the same.
“Important: I’m 100% willing to run for gov WITHOUT ANY organization lines in 2025 as a statement of the importance of moving NJ towards bloc voting If the majority of the other major candidates/potential candidates join me,” he wrote.
“It is the right thing to do. Will you join me @rasjbaraka @MikieSherrill @RepJoshG @SteveSweeney_NJ in committing to bloc voting for 2025 + rejecting any organization line advantage? (If you aren’t a declared candidate there is no need to punt/hide as you can just say “IF I run I would like to see xyz”. Let’s set the standard early and properly[.]”
Currently, the other declared democrats in the race are Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney, with U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) and Mikie Sherrill (D-11) also in the mix of potential contenders.
At 2:17 p.m., Gottheimer responded that he would accept the HCDO line if offered.
“If I’m ever offered the Hudson County line, I’d be honored to take it and any support from chairs and municipal committee members,” he posted on social media.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer.
People beware this Goldman Sachs Guy that wants to be another Gov in NJ.