Fulop secures Hudson endorsements and the organization line for governor in key N.J. county

Two days after announcing that he will seek the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2025, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has secured the organization line in Hudson County after securing a huge number of endorsements in one of the biggest Democratic strongholds in the state.

In a stunning show of force, Fulop has support among Hudson County mayors, county government officials, candidates for the legislature running on the organization line in June 2022 primary, and Hudson County Democratic Chairman Anthony P. Vainieri, Jr.

Hudson County makes up 9% of the total number of registered Democrats in New Jersey, the fourth-highest in the state.   In 2017, Gov. Phil Murphy won 65% of the vote in Jersey City, outperforming his statewide total by seventeen percentage points.

Fulop won 68% of the vote in Hudson County when he ran for re-election two years ago.

“Hudson County is united behind one of our very own in Mayor Steven Fulop, and as HCDO chair, I have personally been in contact with mayors, legislators, and county elected officials, and we are enthusiastically supporting his campaign,” said Vainieri, who also chairs the Hudson County Board of Commissioners.

This is the first organization endorsement in a primary that is still 25 months away and gives Fulop an early jump as he seeks the support of other county Democratic leaders.   Support from Hudson – a major source of votes in a statewide primary — allows Fulop to proceed as a hybrid candidate with his home county organization line and an ability to campaign as a progressive in other parts of the state.

Vainieri praised Fulop’s performance as mayor of Jersey City for the last ten years.

“We have seen the progress that Mayor Fulop has brought to Jersey City up close, and I am certain that he is the best choice to lead New Jersey as our next Governor,” said Vainieri.  “It has been 83 years since the HCDO has elected a governor from within, and we are all excited to change that in 2025.”

The last Hudson County Democrat to be elected governor was A. Harry Moore, who won three non-consecutive gubernatorial elections and one for the United States Senate.