Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla has revealed his campaign team for the 8th District congressional race, led by Al Freedman, a veteran of national Democratic campaigns.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I am thrilled to be joining Mayor Bhalla’s campaign for New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District. Mayor Bhalla is one of the nation’s most effective mayors and he is prepared to bring his track record of results to Congress,” Freedman said in a statement.
“From improving his city’s quality-of-life by eliminating all pedestrian traffic deaths over the past 7 years to developing innovative solutions to the crisis of climate change, the country would benefit a great deal from Mayor Bhalla’s presence in Congress. With trust in Congress at an all-time low, we need new leadership from people like Mayor Bhalla who not only know how to get things done, but have also earned their own accomplishments.”
Freedman most recently managed the successful re-election bid of New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
He is also an alumni of Everytown for Gun Safety, in addition to having served on the campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, Chris Murphy, and Beto O’Rourke.
Also entering the fray for Bhalla’s off the line effort to unseat U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez are pollster Anna Greenberg, of GQR Insights and Action; Mission Control’s Peter Jones and Leticia Martinez handling direct mail; while Eric Goldman and Dana Sherry, of Break Something, will handle digital and media messaging.
He will also retain longtime fundraiser Justin Shoham, of Enigma PC, as well as strategist and spokesman Rob Horowitz, of Rob Horowitz Associates, Inc.
“With Al at the helm, I know we will build the kind of forward-thinking and professionally run campaign that will give the voters of the 8th district a real and honest choice this June,” Bhalla added.
“He and his team are already building a data-driven, sophisticated campaign that will inform the voters of my proven track record of results on issues that matter to New Jerseyans.”
While Federal Election Commission reports aren’t available yet, Bhalla’s team has said he raised a million dollars during the final quarter of 2023.
Additionally, a third Democratic has announced his candidacy in the race, Kyle Jasey, the son of former Assemblywoman Mila Jasey.
Ravi is spending a fortune to get out of Hoboken. Do any of these people specialize in Terror Flyers? He really, really loves terror flyers.
Now now … Stop picking on Ravi. He loves Hoboken, that’s why he spent under 50% assessed of the value of his home to avoid the flood ordinance on his recent mega renovation with a city contracted architect ?
Just asking
Oppo research
Didn’t he just add a six figure full gut rehab of his uptown row house reportedly with a very large cash infusion from his father by an architect who has been handed big no bid contracts. Even with his mayoral paycheck and platinum benefit plan and a controversial side job.
Living in Hoboken is expensive.
The 1st ward misses them
I guess Vijay thinks he can be more effective from his government post, blasting Nixles and politicking from City Hall? Or maybe Ravi wants to keep him away after blowing Crowley’s race to AOC…I would, he’s toxic.
I wish him luck but his opponent has racked up so many big endorsements, seems like an uphill battle despite the Menendez family baggage. I like rooting for the underdog.
Bhalla has over $1m in the bank, largely raised from outside the 8th Congressional District. Menendez has endorsements from just about every politician and “machine” driven organization from within the district. Who is the “underdog?” Answer – the voters….
Bhalla’s Dad bought him a house
Vijay, Rachel, Jason and Joe Q missing from the list