Jersey City Mayoral Race Heats Up

With Election Day just around the corner, the Jersey City mayoral race has become quite the spectacle, almost like a three-way tie. It’s definitely getting messy.

Leading the charge is former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, who has an approval rating of 23%. McGreevey, who made headlines back in 2004 when he resigned due to a sex scandal, seems to be back in the political arena.

Hot on his heels are Bill O’Dea, a longtime Hudson County Commissioner, and Downtown Jersey City Councilman James Solomon, both sitting at around 20%, based on a recent internal poll by Hart Research.

This marks a significant return for McGreevey, who left the governor’s office over 20 years ago, following a scandal involving allegations from a male aide.

O’Dea, a lifelong resident of Jersey City, has been on the Hudson County Commission since 1997, currently in his eighth term. However, his long history in local politics has tied him to numerous less-than-reputable figures.

Solomon, who joined the City Council in 2017, represents a downtown area that has experienced a rapid development surge. Unfortunately, this has led to rising rents and property prices, driving away some longtime businesses and residents.

He’s taken a more aggressive approach lately, positioning himself against McGreevey and O’Dea. For instance, he accused McGreevey of being beholden to New York Republican donors, including those he had previously supported.

McGreevey countered that accepting donations from across the political spectrum demonstrates his ability to gather support that could benefit the city.

Solomon’s campaign has also highlighted O’Dea’s links to controversial figures, such as former state senator “Gold Bar Bob” Menendez—who’s faced his own legal troubles. And, Solomon pointed out O’Dea’s past support for a former Jersey City School Board President who was recently sentenced to probation after corruption charges.

However, O’Dea shrugged off these accusations. His spokesperson mentioned that, over the years, numerous Jersey City Democrats have supported Menendez without any recent connections to him or his issues.

The spokesperson added that Solomon’s attacks indicate his campaign is struggling to resonate with voters beyond his downtown base.

Interestingly, O’Dea had previously called Menendez a “pioneer” in politics, acknowledging the long-standing support from him, even despite past corruption charges.

Solomon has attempted to bring up O’Dea’s relationship with a former councilor who once served as O’Dea’s chief of staff and was convicted of extortion. O’Dea’s team, however, defended him, saying that everyone makes mistakes and that Phil Kenny, the former chief of staff, had actually contributed positively to the community.

Moreover, O’Dea’s team noted that Solomon had previously been seen with Kenny at public events.

As for Solomon, he emphasized the need for a new mayor to address the growing issues at City Hall, particularly concerning the escalating cost of living in New Jersey’s second-largest city.

If none of the candidates can secure a majority of the votes—50% or more—Jersey City will hold a runoff election on December 2nd.

Incumbent Mayor Steven Fulop isn’t running for re-election, having lost out in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Since then, he’s found opportunities in Manhattan.

Among other candidates trailing behind are former Jersey City Board of Education Chairman Musab Ali, Council President Joyce Watterman, police officer Christina Freeman, and musician Kalki Jane Rose.