In a runoff election that rewrites the political script for Hudson County, Progressive Councilman James Solomon has defeated former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey to become Jersey City’s next mayor. This signals a decisive turn toward a new generation of progressive leadership in one of the state’s fastest-growing urban hubs.
How a Crowded Race Came Down to Two Big Names
The November election featured a crowded field of contenders. None managed to clear the 50 percent threshold required to clinch the mayoralty outright.
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That set the stage for a runoff between two starkly different candidates: Solomon, a sitting councilman with a reputation for policy-heavy progressive politics, and McGreevey, the once-powerful governor who left office in 2004 amid a scandal involving an extramarital affair with a man.
For weeks, Jersey City voters saw a clash of visions and histories. One candidate promised transformational reform, while the other asked for a second chance.
McGreevey’s Bid for Redemption Falls Short
McGreevey centered his campaign on redemption, accountability, and experience. He didn’t avoid his past—instead, he leaned into it, openly revisiting the scandal that ended his governorship.
His message was simple: the city could benefit from a seasoned leader who has faced public humiliation, learned from it, and is ready to serve again. But that message collided with relentless attacks.
Opponents resurfaced the scandal in full detail and amplified concerns about campaign contributions from controversial figures, including developer and political donor Charles Kushner. In an era when voters are increasingly wary of entrenched political networks, the old alliances that once fueled statewide careers became liabilities.
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The Progressive Wave Lifts Solomon
Solomon ran as the emblem of Jersey City’s evolving identity: younger, more diverse, and sharply progressive. His campaign emphasized housing affordability, police accountability, and a more equitable development strategy in a city where luxury towers and long-time residents often seem to be competing for the same square foot of land.
He also benefited from a powerful bench of national and regional endorsements that underscored the race’s broader ideological stakes.
High-Profile Endorsements and a New Coalition
Solomon’s candidacy attracted support from some of the most recognizable progressive figures in the region and beyond:
McGreevey had establishment firepower of his own:
A Defining Loss for McGreevey—and a Shift for New Jersey
McGreevey’s defeat marks one of the most significant political setbacks of his career. The race drew inevitable comparisons to New York City’s political saga, where former Governor Andrew Cuomo—who also resigned under a cloud of allegations—attempted his own rehabilitation in the public arena.
In both cases, voters showed little appetite for recycling scandal-scarred political figures, especially when newer voices offer clarity on issues like affordability, policing, and climate resilience.
From Fulop to Solomon: Changing of the Guard
This election also caps the arc of outgoing Mayor Steve Fulop, who chose not to seek re-election as he pursued a bid for governor. Fulop ultimately lost in the Democratic primary, leaving Jersey City without an incumbent mayor for the first time in over a decade.
What Solomon’s Victory Means for Jersey City’s Future
Looking ahead, residents can expect Solomon’s administration to test how far progressive governance can go in a dense, rapidly changing city. Issues like rent stabilization, public safety reform, and equitable investment across all city districts will likely define his first term.
That direction will matter not just for those who live here, but for visitors and businesses deciding where to stay in Jersey City, how to invest in local neighborhoods, and what kind of city we want to be over the next decade.
Politics, Tourism, and the Jersey City Story
Jersey City’s national profile keeps growing. There’s a booming waterfront, a thriving arts scene, and, honestly, the skyline just won’t stop expanding.
Local politics have become part of the city’s brand, whether people like it or not. Voters who backed Solomon seem to believe a more inclusive, progressive city will help residents and the economy, from small downtown shops to Jersey City hotels that host regional travelers.
If you’re new and looking for things to do in Jersey City, the city’s political direction might not jump out at you like the restaurants and galleries do. Still, the decisions made at City Hall will shape everything—transit, zoning, the whole deal.
As more folks figure out getting to Jersey City with PATH, ferries, and light rail, they start asking familiar questions. Safety, affordability, opportunity—these are the same things voters considered in the latest runoff.
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Here is the source article for this story: Progressive James Solomon defeats McGreevey in Jersey City mayor’s race
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