Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark) on Thursday declined to say whether she would run for re-election next year in a primary that potentially has no organization line.
The 81-year-old assemblywoman told the New Jersey Globe, “That’s my decision,” after a Thursday hearing of the Aging and Human Services Committee. Tucker, who beat back a primary challenge in 2023, has $433 in her campaign chest, according to recent filings with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Tucker and Assemblywoman Garnet Hall (D-Maplewood) defeated former Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee in the 2023 primary; Tucker finished slightly behind Hall in the primary but moved slightly ahead of Hall in the general election.
Tucker is the widow of Donald K. Tucker, a legendary Newark political leader who was elected to the city council in 1974 and to the State Assembly in 1997. He was holding both offices when he died in 2005 and was re-elected to the Assembly posthumously.
She was first elected in 2007 on at ticket with then-Essex County Freeholder Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville). They defeatedincumbents Craig Stanley (D-Irvington) and Oadline Truitt (D-Newark) in the Democratic primary. That year, Essex County Democrats declined to back the incumbents for re-election..
Caputo was the top vote-getter with 6,092 votes, followed by Tucker with 5,942. Tucker defeated Stanley by 127 votes, with Truitt running 350 votes behind Stanley.