Guy shows Democratic unity at Hudson County re-election fundraiser

Hudson County Executive Craig Guy appears to have a largely united Democratic Party behind him as he prepares to seek re-election next year, with a Wednesday night fundraiser in Jersey City drawing some of New Jersey’s most powerful Democratic leaders and an impressive cross-section of Hudson County’s political establishment.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Gov. Mikie Sherrill, Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden), Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Woodbridge) and Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark) were among the statewide leaders who attended the event in support of Guy, who also serves as Hudson County Democratic chairman.

With the 2027 county executive election approaching, Wednesday’s fundraiser offered a public demonstration of where much of Hudson County’s Democratic leadership stands — and, through the invitation list, which political figures remain outside Guy’s circle.

The turnout included State Sen. Brian Stack (D-Union City), one of Hudson County’s most influential political leaders, and State Sen. Raj Mukherji (D-Jersey City).

Jersey City Mayor Robert Menendez, Assemblywoman Katie Brennan (D-Jersey City), and Assemblyman Jerry Walker (D-Jersey City) also attended, along with Larry Wainstein, a longtime North Bergen political figure, and Assemblyman William Sampson (D-Bayonne).

But the show of unity had some conspicuous exceptions.

State Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-North Bergen), a former North Bergen mayor and longtime Hudson County Democratic power broker, was not invited. Neither was Hugo Cabrera, a North Bergen commissioner and Sacco ally.

State Sen. Angela McKnight (D-Jersey City) was also left off the invitation list.

Their exclusion suggests that while Guy has assembled broad support across Hudson County’s Democratic establishment, some political divisions remain.

Guy, a longtime aide to former County Executive Tom DeGise, was elected county executive in 2023 after DeGise decided not to seek another term.

He subsequently became chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, consolidating control of two of the county’s most important political positions.

The presence of Sherrill and the Legislature’s top Democratic leaders underscored Guy’s relationships beyond Hudson County, while the attendance of Stack, Mukherji and Menendez demonstrated the breadth of his local political coalition.