There’s no formal alliance between Andy Kim and Ravi Bhalla, but a growing belief is that the two will bracket together on the Hudson County ballot in the June primary.
Downtown Jersey City Councilman James Solomon is hosting a conversation with the two candidates at the Jersey City Theater Center tonight in a precursor of what could be a formidable slate.
Solomon, a potential 2025 mayoral candidate, is the horse whisperer for progressives in Jersey City; tonight’s forum can also be viewed as Kim and Bhalla auditioning for his endorsement.
The Democratic organization in Hudson County has already announced its support for Tammy Murphy for U.S. Senate and incumbent Robert J. Menendez (D-Jersey City) for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
That creates an opening for Kim, a three-term congressman seeking the Senate seat now held by Menendez’s father, and Bhalla, a two-term mayor of Hoboken who is challenging Menendez in the 8th district primary.
Since U.S. Senate candidates draw ballot positions first, a Kim-Bhalla slate does not require bracketing of a candidate for Hudson County surrogate.
Tonight’s discussion on Jersey City and national issues occurs from 6 PM to 7:30 PM at the Jersey City Theater Center, 165 Newark Avenue.