Photo by Adrienne J. Romero / SOC Images.
The election season in Hudson County isn’t over yet.
A runoff election—or second round of voting—is happening for a number of positions in Hudson County, but eyes are on Jersey City’s next mayor between Ward E Councilman James Solomon and former short-term New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey as well as Hoboken’s mayoral race between Councilmember At-Large Emily Jabbour and Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo. With less than four weeks to prepare for Tuesday, Dec. 2’s runoff election, voter participation is arguably even more critical this time around.
So prepare yourself to be loud at the polls.
“By mandating a secondary vote when no candidate meets the necessary threshold, these elections empower voters to make informed decisions between leading candidates, thereby reinforcing the integrity of the electoral system,” according to Votem, an organization that aims to “expand access, fortify and restore trust in elections.”
The Dilemma In Jersey City
A posted total of 62,188 people voted in Jersey City’s mayoral column, with Solomon leading the seven-candidate race with 18,115 votes, or 29.13%, and trailing by McGreevey who got 15,668 votes, or 25.19%, according to Hudson County’s election results portal, which the New Jersey government points is the best place for results.
The councilman and former governor, who are both registered Democrats, are advancing because they were the top two candidates with the most votes, but neither of them received more than 50% of the vote, which is required to determine a clear winner.
They bested the other five candidates on the ballot, which included Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (ranked third); former Jersey City Board of Education President Mussab Ali (ranked fourth); current City Council President Joyce Watterman; Jersey City Police Officer Christina Freeman and resident Kalki Jayne-Rose.
In a statement on election night, Solomon said:
“The voters in Jersey City have sent an unambiguous message tonight: they want change, they want affordability and they want a clean, ethical government that they can be proud of. Since day 1, our election has zeroed in on the issues that matter and that’s why we are advancing to the run-off with an incredible amount of momentum. And, we are going to win…”
“I would like to congratulate Bill O’Dea, Mussab Ali, Joyce Watterman, Christina Freeman, and Kalki Jayne-Rose who stepped up and made this a race about the future of Jersey City. This race is better because they ran.”
“The runoff will be about competing visions, experiences, and records for Jersey City. While Mr. Solomon served on the council for eight years, James has done nothing to address pocketbook concerns and the daily lives of working families.”
Solomon soon after challenged McGreevey to six debates with at least two televised so they can “discuss our very different visions for the city.”
” … During the general election, Jim McGreevey repeatedly turned down debates because he did not want to be called out for his MAGA mega donors like the Kushner family, his corruption or his lack of vision for an affordable future for Jersey City. In a one-on-one runoff, that’s just not going to fly because the voters in Jersey City deserve better. We should have one in each ward,” Solomon said in a statement.
McGreevey responded, “I welcome the opportunity to debate Councilman Solomon in every ward, neighborhood, and corner of Jersey City… These debates are more than a forum; they are a test of leadership. They offer the chance to show not just ideas, but the ability to deliver… This is about more than words on a stage; it’s about who can turn plans into progress, who has the discipline to make government work, and who’s truly ready to lead Jersey City forward.”
Solomon, who is from Hudson County, has been Jersey City councilman since 2017 and is a cancer survivor. McGreevey, who was born in Jersey City but grew up in Carteret, is a former mayor of Woodbridge, former governor of New Jersey—but resigned in 2004 after nationally coming out as a “gay American” and admitting to engaging in “an adult consensual affair with another man”—and current executive director of the NJ Reentry Corporation. You can find our profile on Solomon here and our profile on McGreevey here.
Elsewhere in Jersey City, runoffs are happening in Ward A, Ward B, Ward C, Ward D and Council At-Large. You can see the full results here.
Current Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop commented on the runoffs on X, saying:
“Jersey City’s mayoral race is tightening + almost certainly headed to a December runoff. In hindsight, the runoff system will prob be viewed as a mistake. A non-partisan, ranked-choice election in November would be the best model.”
Fulop, who’s served since 2013, will be leaving the mayoral seat after pursuing a bid to become the New Jersey governor, which has now been earned by Democrat Mikie Sherrill. Fulop lost in the primaries, and will be the next president and CEO for Partnership for New York City.
Some Wins In Hudson County
More than just Jersey City and Hoboken, there were also major races in:
- General Assembly 29th Legislative District: Won by Democrats Eliana Pintor Marin and Shanique Speight
- General Assembly 31st Legislative District: Won by Democrats William Sampson and Jerry Walker
- General Assembly 32nd Legislative District: Won by Democrats Katie Brennan and Ravi Bhalla
- General Assembly 33rd Legislative District: Won by Democrats Gabriel Rodriguez and Larry Wainstein
- Hudson County Sheriff: Won by Democrat James M. Davis
- Kearny Mayor: Won by Democrat Carol Jean Doyle
With Davis’ victory, who is the current Bayonne mayor, he will be replacing longtime county sheriff Frank Schillari, who lost in the Democratic primaries. Bayonne’s mayoral office will be covered by the city council temporarily. An interim mayor will serve until July 1 of next year.
How You’ll Prepare For Dec. 2
At the time of this writing, 11 people answered a poll about Solomon and McGreevey advancing to a runoff through an Instagram story on Slice of Culture showed that:
- 55% are “unsure or neutral”
- 9% “satisfied”
- 36% “Dissatisfied”
Runoffs aren’t uncommon, but it is historically known for a declined voter turnout by 45%, according to Fair Vote. And while there are differing opinions and effects of runoff elections versus ranked choice voting (RCV), it’s still crucial to return to the voting booth on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
You still have a voice this election season. You can prepare to use it by:
- Staying up to date on candidates’ stances by reading or watching informational debates, articles, etc and following their respective social media accounts
- Attending candidate forums or events, and asking a question when there’s a chance to do so. You can find out what events are happening throughout Hudson County by requesting access to Slice of Culture’s Community Calendar by signing up for our free, bi-weekly newsletter: https://www.sliceofculture.com/newsletter/
- Plan your day on Dec. 2 by utilizing Hudson County’s local election resources: https://www.hudsoncountyclerk.org/elections/
If you voted on Nov. 4 and/or on Dec. 2, we’ve created a free, exclusive wallpaper to celebrate those who made their voices heard by voting!
There are two versions: “PEOPLE OVER POWER” and “NJ OVER EVERYTHING.” To claim your free wallpaper, just direct message us on Instagram or email us at [email protected] with a selfie of you with your “I Voted” sticker.
And we want to hear from you! Tell us how you feel about the outcome of the Nov. 4 elections and/or candidates in the Dec. 2 runoffs through Instagram or email.
