2025 Jersey City mayoral election

The 2025 Jersey City mayoral election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Steven Fulop was eligible to seek re-election to a fourth 4-year term, but has announced that he is retiring to run for governor.^[1]

Candidates

Declared

Mussab Ali, former President of the Jersey City Board of Education^[2]
Flash Gordon, Jersey City Department of Parks and Recreation employee and father of former New York Giants linebacker Jonathan Casillas^[3]
Jim McGreevey, former Governor of New Jersey (2002–2004)^[4]
Bill O’Dea, Hudson County Commissioner from the 2nd district (1997–present)^[5]
James Solomon, City Councilor from ward E (2017–present)^[6]
Joyce Watterman, President of the Jersey City Council (2023–present) from the at-large district (2013–present)^[7]

Declined

Steven Fulop, incumbent Mayor (2013–present) (running for Governor)^[8]
Jerry Walker, Hudson County Commissioner from the 3rd district (2018–present), candidate for mayor in 2013, and candidate for New Jersey's 10th congressional district in 2024^[9] (running for State Assembly)^[10]

Endorsements

Mussab Ali

Statewide officials

Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General (2019–present)^[11]

Individuals

Kal Penn, actor^[12]

Jim McGreevey

U.S. Representatives

Albio Sires, mayor of West New York (1995–2006; 2023–present), former U.S. Representative from New Jersey's 8th congressional district (2006–2023)^[13]

Statewide officials

Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey (2018–present)^[14]

State legislators

Raj Mukherji, state senator from the 32rd district (2024–present)^[15]
Nicholas Sacco, former state senator from the 32rd district (1994–2024) and mayor of North Bergen (1991–present)^[16]
Brian Stack, state senator from the 33rd district (2008–present) and mayor of Union City (2000–present)^[17]
Stephen Sweeney, former President of the New Jersey Senate (2010–2022) from the 3rd district (2002–2022)^[18]

County officials

Frank Sadeghi, Ocean County commissioner^[19]

Local officials

Rich Boggiano, Jersey City councilor from ward C (2013–present)^[15]
Jerramiah Healy, former mayor of Jersey City (2004–2013)^[15]
Gerald McCann, former mayor of Jersey City (1981–1985, 1989–1992)^[18]
Annise Parker, former mayor of Houston (2010–2016)^[20]
6 other mayors^[13]^[16]

Party officials

George Gilmore, Ocean County Republican Chair^[19]
Craig Guy, Hudson County Democratic Chair and Hudson County Executive (2024–present)^[21]

Labor unions

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825^[22]
Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association^[23]
Jersey City Police Superior Officers Association^[23]
Laborers' International Union of North America^[24]
New Jersey Carpenters Union^[25]
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 360^[26]

Organizations

LGBTQ Victory Fund^[20]

Bill O’Dea

Labor unions

Teamsters Joint Council 73 and Local 560^[24]

Polling

Hypothetical polling

McGreevey vs. O'Dea vs. Rivera vs. Solomon vs. Walker vs. Watterman vs. Neither

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size^[a]	Margin of error	Jim McGreevey	Bill O'Dea	Daniel Rivera	James Solomon	Jerry Walker	Joyce Watterman	Other
Change Research^[27]	–	409 (RV)	–	32%	19%	8%	16%	7%	9%	34%^[b]

Notes

^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
^ "I wouldn’t consider any of these candidates" with 34%

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of October 15, 2024
Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on hand
Mussab Ali (D)	$60,040.00	$57,419.38	$206,056.03
Flash Gordon (D)
Jim McGreevey (D)	$100,186.64	$247,997.05	$1,151,661.51
Bill O’Dea (D)	$171,836.35	$9,919.91	$589,725.66
James Solomon (D)	$208,841.67	$18,583.30	$409,646.72
Joyce Watterman (D)	$16,100.00	$33,482.06	$84,607.37
Source: New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission

References

^ Wildstein, David (January 3, 2023). "Telegraphing gubernatorial bid, Fulop won't seek re-election as Jersey City mayor in 2025". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
^ Wildstein, David (April 9, 2024). "Former Jersey City school board president jumps into mayor's race". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
^ Wildstein, David (January 22, 2024). "Flash Gordon — that's his real name — will run for mayor of Jersey City". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
^ Cole, Kirstin (November 9, 2023). "Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey enters Jersey City mayoral race". WPIX. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
^ Cruz, David (November 20, 2023). "Hudson County commissioner joins Jersey City mayoral race". NJ Spotlight News. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
^ Wildstein, David (September 19, 2024). "Solomon launches bid for Jersey City mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
^ Wildstein, David (June 20, 2024). "Watterman joins race for Jersey City mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
^ Wildstein, David (April 11, 2023). "Fulop announces bid for Governor in 2025". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
^ Wildstein, David (May 9, 2024). "Jerry Walker Will Run In NJ-10 Special Election, Per Hudson County View". New Jersey Globe. [Walker] had been exploring another campaign for mayor in 2025, a campaign that might still go forward if his congressional bid isn't successful.
^ Wildstein, David (January 3, 2025). "Hudson County prepares for war in three Assembly districts, Sheriff's race". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
^ McDonell, Alexis (February 5, 2025). "Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison Endorses Mussab Ali for Jersey City Mayor". Jersey City Times. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
^ Ulloa, Daniel (January 7, 2025). "Actor Kal Penn delivers comedy set for Mussab Ali for Jersey City mayor fundraiser". Retrieved January 11, 2025.
^ ^a ^b Wildstein, David (September 12, 2023). "Three Hudson mayors tell McGreevey to run in Jersey City". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
^ Wildstein, David (January 21, 2025). "Murphy will back McGreevey for Jersey City mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c Heinis, John (March 23, 2024). "State Senator Mukherji endorses former Gov. McGreevey for Jersey City mayor". Retrieved March 23, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Wildstein, David (September 19, 2023). "Five Hudson mayors urge McGreevey to run in Jersey City". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
^ Wildstein, David (May 26, 2023). "Stack, others want McGreevey to run for Jersey City mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Primary School 11/16". November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Heinis, John (September 16, 2024). "Ocean County GOP's Gilmore to co-host McGreevey for Jersey City mayor event". Retrieved September 17, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Wildstein, David (February 27, 2025). "National LGBTQ group supports McGreevey for mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
^ Wildstein, David (November 16, 2023). "Craig Guy endorses McGreevey for mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
^ Wildstein, David (January 8, 2024). "Operating Engineers go with McGreevey for mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Jersey City POBA Backs McGreevey for Mayor". December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Wildstein, David (November 22, 2023). "Teamsters support O'Dea, Laborers go with McGreevey". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
^ Wildstein, David (November 27, 2023). "Carpenters Union endorsing McGreeveey". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
^ Blackburn, Zach (March 19, 2025). "UFCW local endorses McGreevey for Jersey City mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
^ Change Research

External links

[Key-27] Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

[29] "I wouldn’t consider any of these candidates" with 34%

[1] Wildstein, David (January 3, 2023). "Telegraphing gubernatorial bid, Fulop won't seek re-election as Jersey City mayor in 2025". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved May 20, 2023.

[2] Wildstein, David (April 9, 2024). "Former Jersey City school board president jumps into mayor's race". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved April 9, 2024.

[3] Wildstein, David (January 22, 2024). "Flash Gordon — that's his real name — will run for mayor of Jersey City". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved January 23, 2024.

[4] Cole, Kirstin (November 9, 2023). "Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey enters Jersey City mayoral race". WPIX. Retrieved November 9, 2023.

[5] Cruz, David (November 20, 2023). "Hudson County commissioner joins Jersey City mayoral race". NJ Spotlight News. Retrieved November 22, 2023.

[6] Wildstein, David (September 19, 2024). "Solomon launches bid for Jersey City mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved September 19, 2024.

[7] Wildstein, David (June 20, 2024). "Watterman joins race for Jersey City mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 20, 2024.

[Fulop-8] Wildstein, David (April 11, 2023). "Fulop announces bid for Governor in 2025". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved April 11, 2023.

[9] Wildstein, David (May 9, 2024). "Jerry Walker Will Run In NJ-10 Special Election, Per Hudson County View". New Jersey Globe. [Walker] had been exploring another campaign for mayor in 2025, a campaign that might still go forward if his congressional bid isn't successful.

[10] Wildstein, David (January 3, 2025). "Hudson County prepares for war in three Assembly districts, Sheriff's race". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved January 3, 2025.

[11] McDonell, Alexis (February 5, 2025). "Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison Endorses Mussab Ali for Jersey City Mayor". Jersey City Times. Retrieved February 6, 2025.

[12] Ulloa, Daniel (January 7, 2025). "Actor Kal Penn delivers comedy set for Mussab Ali for Jersey City mayor fundraiser". Retrieved January 11, 2025.

[3_Mayors-13] Wildstein, David (September 12, 2023). "Three Hudson mayors tell McGreevey to run in Jersey City". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved September 13, 2023.

[14] Wildstein, David (January 21, 2025). "Murphy will back McGreevey for Jersey City mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved January 21, 2025.

[Mukherji-15] Heinis, John (March 23, 2024). "State Senator Mukherji endorses former Gov. McGreevey for Jersey City mayor". Retrieved March 23, 2024.

[5_Mayors-16] Wildstein, David (September 19, 2023). "Five Hudson mayors urge McGreevey to run in Jersey City". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved September 19, 2023.

[17] Wildstein, David (May 26, 2023). "Stack, others want McGreevey to run for Jersey City mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved May 26, 2023.

[Primary_School_11/16-18] "Primary School 11/16". November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.

[Ocean-19] Heinis, John (September 16, 2024). "Ocean County GOP's Gilmore to co-host McGreevey for Jersey City mayor event". Retrieved September 17, 2024.

[Victory-20] Wildstein, David (February 27, 2025). "National LGBTQ group supports McGreevey for mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved February 28, 2025.

[21] Wildstein, David (November 16, 2023). "Craig Guy endorses McGreevey for mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved September 16, 2023.

[22] Wildstein, David (January 8, 2024). "Operating Engineers go with McGreevey for mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved January 8, 2024.

[POBA-23] "Jersey City POBA Backs McGreevey for Mayor". December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.

[Teamsters-24] Wildstein, David (November 22, 2023). "Teamsters support O'Dea, Laborers go with McGreevey". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 22, 2023.

[25] Wildstein, David (November 27, 2023). "Carpenters Union endorsing McGreeveey". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 27, 2023.

[26] Blackburn, Zach (March 19, 2025). "UFCW local endorses McGreevey for Jersey City mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved March 22, 2025.

[28] Change Research

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