Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has announced he won’t seek a fourth term in 2025, the latest signal that a run for governor that year is likely.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I wanted to share with you a decision I made over the new year. I’ve decided with certainty that this will be my last term as mayor and despite no term limits in Jersey City, I know that I won’t be standing for re-election as Jersey City’s mayor in 2025,” he said in an email blast.
“I am forever grateful that you elected me for three terms as your mayor – something that hasn’t been done in more than 50 years, and you did it with record pluralities. In turn, I put everything I could into serving as mayor knowing that I strived every single day to make you proud and move the city forward.”
Fulop noted that seven of his 10 years in office haven’t had tax increases, as well as open space improvements like Berry Lane Park and development projects like the revitalization of Journal Square – which includes the Loew’s Theatre renovation and Pompidou Centre.
He was first elected mayor in 2013 after serving two terms as the Ward E councilman and is now on the Democratic shortlist of gubernatorial candidates, with $5.9 at his disposal via the Coalition for Progress super PAC.
Other potential Democratic candidates include U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11), Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and former Senate President Steve Sweeney.
On the other side of the aisle, Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a former state assemblyman who gave Phil Murphy a run for his money in November 2021, has already said he plans on running for a third time in 2025.
In New Jersey, governors are limited to two terms, so Murphy will move on after serving out his term in 2025. Fulop was expected to run in 2017, but sought re-election and endorsed Murphy instead.
The mayoral contest also promises to be a lively one, with County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), Ward E Councilman James Solomon, Council President Joyce Waterman, and Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-33), the likely new state senator of the new 32nd Legislative District, all in the early mix.
The profits from his wife’s pot shop in Hoboken will keep buy him whatever he wants.
Bhalla will back his play.
Jersey City and NJ, why can’t we do better? Rhetorical question. Low voter turnout, too much money in politics, lack of transparency, massive egos, and just plain bad ideas and candidates across the spectrum. And citizens too busy working themselves to death at multiple jobs to really take an interest. Muddling through is now the norm.
He will never be Governor
Bertolli
School Budget
Property tax increase
Grateful, for possible qualified candidates for Governor.