Bhalla and Brennan forge slate for Hudson Assembly seats

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and former Murphy administration official Katie Brennan will run together in bids for the Democratic nomination for State Assembly in the 32nd district.

Bhalla and Brennan said their plan to run separate campaigns was upended by a new law that allows candidates to bracket together.

“When Ravi and I testified against the ballot redesign bill, we made clear that bracketing puts candidates running on their own at a disadvantage,” Brennan said. “While we continue to fight for truly fair ballots, we’re running on the same slate because the residents of Jersey City and Hoboken deserve legislators who will fight for them and aren’t beholden to any political machine. This puts us in the best position to win while maintaining our independence.”

They will face one incumbent, Jessica Ramirez (D-Jersey City), a first-term lawmaker who is seeking re-election on a slate backed by gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop, the three-term mayor of Jersey City.   The Hudson County Democratic Organization supports Jenny Pu, the director of the Hoboken Public Library and a PTA president in Jersey City, and Crystal Fonseca, a manager at the Jersey City Department of Public Safety.

Another incumbent, John Allen (D-Hoboken), is leaving the State Assembly after a single term and is supporting Bhalla, who is not seeking a third term as mayor in order to run for the legislature.

“Katie and I share similar visions for what Jersey City and Hoboken need in Trenton,” stated Bhalla.  “By running together, we’re creating the strongest possible ticket to deliver on making housing more affordable, improving public transit, curbing climate change, funding our schools, and protecting our state against federal threats.”

The Hudson County-based district includes Hoboken and part of Jersey City.