Bagolie officially seeking second term in Assembly

Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie (D-Livingston) officially launched her campaign for re-election Monday.

A release announcing Bagolie’s run touted her work on labor and education policy, including a bill to ban cell phones from K-12 classrooms that received praise from Gov. Phil Murphy during his State of the State address. Bagolie, a freshman legislator, served as a Livingston councilwoman before her stint representing the 27th legislative district.

“In a time when public education, equity, and civil rights are under attack, it is more important than ever to have strong voices in Trenton,” she said in a release. “I want to continue to be a voice for my constituents, and I am committed to building a stronger and more equitable New Jersey.”

Bagolie raised $56,820 in the last three months of 2024 and entered the new year with $82,879 on hand, according to financial disclosures.

The assemblywoman’s announcement included endorsements from Essex County Commissioner Patricia Sebold and parent advocate Parul Khemka.

Bagolie and her assemblymate, Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill (D-Montclair), face a primary challenge in the Essex County primary. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop recruited Rohit Dave, the head of corporate development at financial services company Block, to challenge the incumbents. Fulop is recruiting a slate of Assembly candidates throughout the state as part of his anti-establishment gubernatorial campaign.

Bagolie, the superintendent and principal of the East Newark school district, won the Democratic nomination for the Assembly seat in a special convention in 2023 and won a noncompetitive general election in the heavily Democratic district. The primary race this year could very well be her first true test before the voters of LD-27, but her campaign says she’s ready for it.

“In her first term, she raised over $100,000, a testament to the overwhelming support she has earned from her constituents eager to back her re-election campaign,” the release read. “Her ability to bring people together through collaboration and coalition-building has solidified her standing as a trusted advocate in Trenton.”