This election season in Hudson County dragged on. It was loud, messy, and sometimes downright bitter.
The runoffs in Hoboken and Jersey City finally brought some clarity. Voters picked a more progressive direction, shaking up the local power scene and pushing aside some once-dominant names.
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New leaders are stepping in, and they’ll shape the region’s political future for years. It’s a big shift from what we’ve seen before.
A Resounding Win for James Solomon in Jersey City
Jersey City’s mayoral runoff wasn’t close. James Solomon scored a commanding 68–32 win over former Governor Jim McGreevey.
Most people expected a tight race, but this one turned into a showdown between the city’s political past and its future. McGreevey’s campaign fell apart in the end.
Despite all his name recognition and years in public life, his slate didn’t win a single council seat. Solomon, on the other hand, built a coalition strong enough to redraw the council map and pull power toward a progressive agenda.
McGreevey’s Missteps and the End of an Era
McGreevey’s team stuck with old-school tactics and a message that just didn’t fit the mood. Voters who might’ve rallied around a familiar name ended up turning away from what felt like a throwback campaign.
Campaign consultant David Cruz took a lot of the blame. Critics said he lacked experience, the messaging was off, and the campaign never really countered Solomon’s sharper, more hopeful narrative.
The result? A disappointing second place that dragged down everyone on McGreevey’s slate. Jersey City politics have changed, and it showed.
Progressives Surge on the Jersey City Council
The biggest structural shift didn’t just happen at the top. Two Democratic Socialists of America members, Joel Brooks and Jake Ephros, won seats on the Jersey City Council.
This marks a generational change in who holds power — and what they care about. With Brooks and Ephros joining Solomon, progressive priorities like housing, policing, transit, and affordability now have real backing.
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The Decline of Moderates and Conservatives in South Hudson
For decades, South Hudson politics revolved around moderate and conservative Democrats. They ran things with a transactional, machine-style approach.
This election showed that era’s fading, and fast. Younger, more progressive voices are rising — renters, transit riders, working families who feel squeezed by rising costs.
Expect more scrutiny on development, stronger tenant protections, and louder debates over public spending. The center of gravity has shifted, and it doesn’t look like it’s shifting back anytime soon.
Hoboken’s Runoffs: Jabbour’s Momentum and a GOP Breakthrough
Hoboken voters brought their own shake-up across the waterfront. The council races showed how a campaign’s story and timing can make or break things in the final stretch.
Emily Jabbour grabbed a clear 54–46 runoff win over Mike Russo. She found late momentum and zeroed in on Russo’s past to reshape the race.
Jabbour vs. Russo: The Power of Political Memory
Russo tried to run a relentlessly positive campaign, betting on his experience and steady hand. Voters weren’t buying it.
Jabbour’s team painted him as a throwback to Hoboken’s bad old days — corruption, backroom deals, and a style most residents want to leave behind. Her win wasn’t just about the numbers. It was about closing the door on a part of local history that still lingers in people’s minds.
Steve Firestone’s Historic Win for Republicans
Hoboken surprised everyone in another way. Steve Firestone became the first Republican elected to the city council since 2011.
But he didn’t get there by hugging the national party line. Firestone ran on a progressive ticket and kept his distance from the MAGA brand.
In a deep-blue city, party labels just don’t matter as much as local credibility and staying out of the national fray. His win isn’t really a conservative comeback — it’s more a lesson in how complicated local politics have gotten.
Bill O’Dea’s Strategic Positioning
Not every political win shows up in the vote totals. Bill O’Dea fell short in the mayoral race, but he might’ve made the smartest post-election move.
He endorsed Solomon and secured a spot as transition team co-chair. That puts him in a position to shape policy and pick key people — and keeps him in the mix for future county leadership.
For someone with O’Dea’s experience, it’s a classic long-game play.
What This Means for Jersey City Residents and Visitors
This new lineup will affect everything from development approvals and rent rules to bike lanes and park funding. For visitors, it’ll slowly change how the city feels — which neighborhoods get investment, how public spaces are used, and what kind of cultural life takes root.
Jersey City’s profile is growing nationally. More travelers are booking Jersey City hotels instead of staying across the river. That shift mirrors the city’s political story: a once-overlooked neighbor now setting its own agenda, both culturally and politically.
Connecting the Political Map to the City Map
These elections will shape how different city districts grow over the next decade. More progressive leadership usually means more focus on equity between neighborhoods, infrastructure upgrades outside downtown, and tougher questions about who benefits from new development.
If you’re planning a visit, the political and physical landscapes are tied together. When you’re looking up where to stay in Jersey City, you’re also picking which version of the city you want to experience — the shiny waterfront, the historic corridors, or the new arts and residential hubs that these new leaders will shape.
Jersey City’s Next Chapter
Whether you’ve lived here for decades, just moved in, or you’re simply stopping by, this election says a lot about where Jersey City’s heading. The city’s current progressive wave is already changing zoning maps and sparking fresh debates about schools and transit.
Even smaller things—like how you get around or pick your favorite hangout—are shifting as a result.
If you’re visiting, check out the growing list of things to do in Jersey City. There’s always something, from waterfront festivals to food tours that mirror the city’s changing vibe.
Getting here? It’s honestly pretty painless these days with PATH, ferries, and light rail. Jersey City feels more and more like its own thing, not just an afterthought to New York.
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Here is the source article for this story: The 2025 Hoboken & Jersey City runoff elections: The biggest winners and losers
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