Jim McGreevey attends Governor Phil Murphy's 2026 fiscal year budget address in Trenton, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2205.
Syndication: The Record
(Jersey City, NJ) — More than two decades after his dramatic resignation as Governor of New Jersey, Jim McGreevey is attempting one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent American political history: a run for mayor of his hometown, Jersey City. The former governor, who famously stepped down in 2004 declaring, “I am a gay American,” collected enough votes on November 4th to put him in a December run off to become Jersey City’s next mayor. The current Mayor, Steven Fulop opted out of another term to run what was a failed bid to be governor.
There was a crowded field of seven candidates running in the non partisan race. McGreevey came in second securing 15,760 votes. City Council member James Solomon was in first place with 18,339 votes. Both failed to achieve the necessary 50% majority. A run off to decide the race will take place on December 2nd.
The 68-year-old McGreevey made his mayoral intentions known almost exactly a year before election day. He claimed at the time that his campaign was not about his own redemption, but was more about making the city more affordable and city services easier to access.
McGreevey’s chief credential since stepping down as Governor in 2004 has been as the Executive Director of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation, a non-profit dedicated to assisting formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society. It was a job he held for six years until he was fired. He said at the time the reason he was sacked was all about political retribution from Mayor Fulop, while the mayor claimed McGreevey had misappropriated funding for the non-profit.
During the final weeks of the November 4th Jersey City mayoral campaign, McGreevey’s chief rival, City Councilman James Solomon attacked the ex-governor’s past, stating that he is “the living embodiment of the corrupt, failed, politicians of the past” The McGreevey campaigned mostly ignored the insults and instead campaigned hard in the city’s minority communities.
Voters will have to decide on December 2nd if they want the executive experience that McGreevey has or pick the progressive reform platform of a younger candidate in Solomon.
