Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop made his 2025 gubernatorial run official this morning, making him the first candidate to formally declare their candidacy.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“From my time serving as a U.S. Marine to leading Jersey City as mayor, my career has always been guided by a strong desire to take on difficult challenges and find solutions that help improve peoples’ lives, and now I’m running for governor to bring those same values to Trenton,” Fulop said in his campaign launch video, which is embedded above.
“I’m launching my campaign now because I believe that New Jersey can become an even better place for all of us, and I will be sharing my vision over the coming months for how we will make it happen. I’ve never backed down from a fight before, and I’m ready to work hard for all the people of our great state to deliver the results New Jersey deserves.”
His announcement comes as no surprise, given that he indicated he would not seek a fourth term as mayor at the beginning of the year.
Additionally, two super PACs linked to Fulop, the Coalition for Progress and the Fund for Quality Leadership, upped their fundraising game since Fulop was re-elected decisively in November 2021.
They currently have about $6.6 million cash on hand combined, according to their second quarter campaign finance filings.
Despite not yet being a declared candidate, Hudson County Democratic Organization Chair Anthony Vainieri and state Senator/North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco both gave a full throated endorsement of Fulop last year.
The first half of his campaign launch video details him leaving Goldman Sachs to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps after 9/11, with the second half discussing his tenure as mayor and what he could bring to Trenton.
After getting blown out in congressional race to then-U.S. Rep. Bob Menendez in 2004, Fulop won the Jersey City Ward E council seat the following year.
He successfully defended his seat in 2009 before defeating Mayor Jerramiah Healy in 2013.
He was at one point considered the frontrunner in the 2017 governor’s race, but unexpectedly decided to endorse eventual winner Phil Murphy and seek re-election instead.
With his candidacy for statewide office official, Fulop gets a head start over other Democratic contenders such as U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) and Mikie Sherrill (D-11), along with former Senate President Steve Sweeney, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and Montclair Mayor Steve Spiller – who is also the NJEA president.
On the other side of the aisle, former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who lost to Murphy by about three points in November 2021, has said he plans to run again (he also tried in 2017), but has not formally declared yet.
Now that Mr Fulup has finally made it official will it help Mrs Fulop’s push forward plans to open a cannabis shop in a residential building in Hoboken ?
Will Councilman Russo who Chairs the Hoboken Cannabis Board also be part of Mayor Flops political campaign ? Will Mayor Bhalla and Hoboken City Council team continue to back Fulop’s political ambitions ?
Ethics ?
Did he really just open with the 9/11 attacks? Talk about traumatizing his voter base who probably saw it happen live.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6paMJfiaO0A
This reads like a George W Bush strategist tactic.
Open on 9/11…. Talk about bravery …. Somehow relate those MONTHS with service as by becoming a councilman….
He would have never won if it were not for Glen Cunningham
Interesting this announcement days after his Fixer Tommy was sentenced
Can’t wait until south jersey and the suburbs read about Steve’s 1 billion dollar schools budget, the 28% municipal tax rate and all the other taxes he imposes
He can’t win
If he loses he can join Tucker and the war mongers on Fox
Significant New Jersey elections are no longer about reaching out to voters on a grass roots level. Fulop will spend the next year or more accumulating endorsements and financial support in an attempt to scare off potential competitors. If his full story ever gets to the public , Fulop will be in trouble. There is a stigma attached to being a Hudson County politician that he has not attempted to shake and, if anything, has doubled down on the image of the slick, urban raconteur; his act will not play as well in Bergen County or Montclair. My hope would be for someone like Sherill or Gottheimer to emerge. Let’s see.
Some interesting points you raise and about your alternatives, I think I just threw up in my mouth. 🤮