McGreevey: “I have been a Democrat my entire life, and I will die a Democrat. My focus remains on delivering tangible results for families’

OPINION

I have spent my life fighting for a more just and equitable New Jersey, and that mission has never wavered, regardless of politics, donations, or convenience. I have been a Democrat my entire life, and I will die a Democrat. My focus remains on delivering tangible results for families.

The notion that I am aligned with MAGA Republicans is not only ridiculous—it is a deliberate misrepresentation. After more than 30 years of service in public, legislative, and executive roles, I have built strong, respectful relationships across party lines. That is not a weakness; it is a strength. As mayor, I will use those relationships to deliver real results for Jersey City, not to sow division.

Working across the aisle does not mean compromising my values. I have always stood for equity, inclusion, and opportunity, and I will continue to do so. My record makes that clear. The challenges facing our city are too urgent for performative politics. We need leaders who listen, collaborate, and take action, and that is precisely the kind of leadership I will bring to City Hall.

Throughout my career, from founding the New Jersey Reentry Corporation to advancing laws that expanded women’s healthcare and protected seniors, I have consistently fought for those left behind—returning citizens, families struggling with housing, seniors, veterans, and working people seeking opportunities. That record speaks for itself.

During my early years in the State Assembly, I fought to pass legislation that required insurance companies to cover mammograms, passed the 1991 Pollution Prevention Act, and sponsored legislation to require doctors to accept Medicaid payments as full payment for our seniors.

I chose to run for mayor because I could not sit back and watch the city I love become unrecognizable. I bring the executive and legislative experience needed to tackle Jersey City’s challenges head-on. I will go to Holy Name Cemetery knowing I fought for the people of this city.

My plan will focus on sustainable, community-centered development that benefits everyone, not just the wealthy few. We will expand workforce and senior housing, stabilize property taxes and rents, enforce tenant protections, and partner with faith-based organizations to build more affordable homes. Development must be transparent and centered around residents’ needs, not political convenience.

Councilman Solomon has been in office for nearly eight years, yet during that time, our city has become more expensive and more inequitable. While he now speaks out against overdevelopment, he has supported many of the very projects he criticizes.

Mr. Solomon comes from a family with considerable wealth and owns a multi-million-dollar home. While financial success is not inherently disqualifying, it can create a significant disconnect from the lived experiences of working families, leading to policies that lack urgency, relevance, or impact. My work is grounded in direct engagement with residents who face sometimes devastating financial challenges every day, and that perspective informs every policy I pursue.

Mr. Solomon has spent over two years developing a Right to Counsel ordinance to support renters, but it has yet to help a single tenant. On key neighborhood initiatives, like the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza, residents have raised serious concerns about safety and oversight.

By contrast, I have spent my time working directly with those too often left behind, expanding access to essential services, and fighting for more affordable housing and equitable development. Leadership is about showing up, listening closely, and delivering real results, not just promises.

I believe in building a Jersey City that is cleaner, safer, and fairer for all, and I will work tirelessly to ensure that every resident in every neighborhood has a voice and a real chance to thrive.