U.S. Senator Andy Kim, Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-Glen Ridge), and State Sen. Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange) are taking sides in a contested Democratic primary for three ward council seats in Bloomfield, moving against the local Democratic organization headed by Assemblyman Michael Venezia (D-Bloomfield).
“Stefanie Santiago, Greg Babula, and Stef Bootwala are a new generation of leaders ready to move Bloomfield forward with transparency, accountability, and leadership rooted in community,” the three high-ranking lawmakers said in a joint statement.
Santiago and Bootwala are running on the progressive Bloomfield for Progress slate against candidates backed by Venezia, the Democratic municipal chairman and former mayor. Babula is also challenging the organization candidate under the Essex Reform Democrats banner.
Santiago faces incumbent Rosalee Gonzalez in the First Ward. This is a rematch of the 2025 primary for a one-year unexpired term, which Gonzalez won by 229 votes, 56%-44%.
Babula, a Disney software engineer who has served on the planning board and historic preservation commission, is running for the open Second Ward seat. He faces Jason Martinez, the director of Essex County Youth Services and a former part-time aide to Venezia, and newcomer Paul Bonica; Councilman Nick Joanow, 80, is not seeking re-election after 18 years in office
Bootwala is challenging two-term incumbent Sarah Cruz in the Third Ward.
“At a time when trust in government is at a record low, they are stepping up with a positive vision that puts working families first and focuses on delivering real results for Bloomfield residents,” said Kim, Mejia, and Timberlake. “We are proud to endorse Stefanie, Greg, and Stef for Bloomfield Town Council and encourage our neighbors to get involved in these final weeks to help build the future Bloomfield deserves.”
Kim, whose federal lawsuit ended the county organization line in 2024, has not hesitated to take on party bosses. Last year, he committed to endorsing a primary challenger to State Sen. Jim Beach (D-Voorhees) in the Democratic primary, and said he would recruit candidates to take on incumbent lawmakers who don’t back anti-corruption measures.
Bloomfield is not just a reliably Democratic town; it is an increasingly progressive and diverse one. Over the past three decades, the township’s White population declined from 86% in 1990 to 37% in 2020, while its Black population grew from 4% to 19% and its Hispanic population rose from 5% to 31%.
Mejia carried Bloomfield with 44% of the vote in the February special Democratic congressional primary in New Jersey’s 11th district. The second-place candidate received 19% of the vote in an 11-candidate field.
Last year, Venezia won renomination for a second term by a narrow margin of 863 votes. One of his primary opponents, Frank Velez, is now the mayor-elect of Belleville after ousting incumbent Michael Melham by 20 percentage points in last week’s non-partisan municipal election.
The upcoming primary could be a precursor of Venezia’s political future. He’s not assured of Timberlake’s support next year, and Belleville, where Mejia also won big, has moved to the left.
Mayor Jenny Mundell is backing the organization slate.
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