Bhalla joins race for State Assembly seat

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla has entered the race for the Democratic nomination for State Assembly in the Hudson County-based 32nd legislative district, saying he wants to bring the same kind of innovative leadership to the legislature that he’s shown during his two terms as mayor.

“I believe Trenton needs more mayors who get things done in the State Assembly,” he said. “I will fight to ensure that New Jersey leads the way on curbing both traffic fatalities and climate change, and address the housing crisis that is squeezing so many residents in Jersey City, Hoboken and throughout the state.”

In his 2024 bid for the Democratic nomination for Congress against Rep. Robert J. Menendez (D-Jersey City), Bhalla won over 60% of the vote in the 32nd district portion of the congressional district.

Bhalla’s expected announcement means that the incumbent, Assemblyman John Allen (D-Hoboken), will call it quits after a single term.  That was expected; Allen is Bhalla’s former chief of staff, and the New Jersey Globe reported in August that Allen might not run again.

Freshman Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-Jersey City) is expected to run again on a slate backed by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop, the mayor of Jersey City.   Katie Brennan, a former Murphy administration official, is also seeking the Democratic nomination.

Last week, Bhalla announced he would not seek a third term as mayor.

“With Donald Trump back in the White House and the Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, the role of states and cities is more important now than ever.  We are the laboratories of democracy that will move our state and country forward.”

Bhalla became the state’s first mayor to form a Department of Climate Action & Innovation and has opposed the New Jersey Turnpike extension and the legislature’s vote on OPRA reform.  Under Bhalla’s leadership, Hoboken has received a 100% score from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index for local policies and ordinances that benefit LGBTQIA+ residents.

If elected, Bhalla would become the first Sikh American to serve in the New Jersey Legislature.  He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, received a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, and a law degree from Tulane University.