Newark North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos, Jr. has always been a prodigious fundraiser, but the proximity to the 2026 mayoral race led to amped-up attendance at his annual Steak & Lobster fundraiser last night.
With incumbent Ras Baraka seeking the Democratic nomination for governor next year, Ramos is considered a leading candidate for mayor of Newark. Baraka, not always a Ramos ally, attended the event; so did Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, an announced candidate for governor, and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), who is considering a bid to replace term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy last year.
Sherrill could have an edge in the North Ward, which produces a disproportionately high voter turnout in Newark: her sherpa is Phil Alagia, the chief of staff to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and a master of GOTV In the North Ward. Baraka has struggled to get people to the poll on Election Day; Baraka’s school board candidates won last week, but turnout was at just 3%. And Fulop and Ramos are close; Ramos swore in Fulop when he began his third term.
Two bitter rivals were also at the Ramos event: Rep. Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) and his primary opponent, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. Newark’s North Ward is in the 8th congressional district.
Ramos ran for mayor in 2014, but withdrew early and supported former Assistant Attorney General Shavar Jeffries for the post. The East Ward is also Ramos country, and he’s establishing a foothold in the Central Ward as well. If he wins, Ramos will become Newark’s first Hispanic mayor.
Unlike Steve Fulop, who has said he would not seek re-election to a fourth term as mayor of Jersey City regardless of the outcome of the gubernatorial primary, Baraka has not said if he’ll seek re-election in 2026 if he loses in 2025.
Other possible mayoral candidates include: City Council President LaMonica McIver, South Ward Councilman Patrick Council, and possibly Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz.
A councilman since 2006, Ramos had $294,176 cash-on-hand as of the end of last year.