Progressive organizer Adrian Ghainda is launching his second bid for Hudson County commissioner in the Jersey City-based second district.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I am running for county commissioner again because our working-class voters deserve a leader who listens to every voice in the district. For too long the county budget of about $700 million has not yielded programs that can justify our climate crisis, our housing crisis, and immigration crisis. In 2023, we ran a campaign focused on policy and people power,” he said in a statement.
“I intend to fully run for the 2nd District to advocate for stronger policies that protect reproductive justice, climate resiliency, affordable housing, and advance safe and reliable public transit. We intend to tackle the housing crisis by advancing legislation on community land trusts. We intend to double down on advancing bus rapid transit on Kennedy Boulevard and organizing on a network of connected bike lanes across Hudson County.”
Ghainda, 27, is a graduate from New Jersey City University (NJCU) and MPA candidate at Rutgers School for Public Administration and Affairs.
He is also currently the deputy director for House of Hearts Project, vice chair of Beyond The Ballot.
Additionally, Ghainda recently worked as the political director of the successful state Assembly Democratic primary campaign of Katie Brennan and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla in the 32nd Legislative District.
He secured about 32 percent of the vote in his 2023 primary effort against Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), who is running for Jersey City mayor in November. It remains unclear if he will seek re-election if he is not elected mayor.
No other potential candidates have emerged yet for the June 2026 primary, though fellow 2023 progressive commissioner candidate Ron Bautista announced he was running again back in June, as HCV first reported.
