Dina Grilo Archives - New Jersey Globe

Stack, HCDO will stick with Rob Menendez in 2026

January 8, 2026 2:42 pmJanuary 11, 2026 11:14 am

Facing another potential primary challenge in the 8th congressional district this spring, Rep. Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) will officially retain the support of the powerful local Democrats who helped get him elected in both 2022 and 2024. Union City Mayor/State...

Checking in on other notable local primaries

June 7, 2023 5:04 pmJune 8, 2023 10:22 am

In addition to the top-billed primaries for the legislature and county office, dozens of municipalities held contested primaries last night, some of which were hotly contested. Here’s a list – but not an exhaustive one – of consequential results. Atlantic...

Grilo takes over for Hudson’s longest-serving mayor

January 5, 2020 6:19 pmJanuary 5, 2020 6:57 pm

Dina Grilo took office on Friday as the mayor of East Newark, six months after unseating Hudson County’s longest-serving mayor in the Democratic primary. Grilo, a 47-year-old financial services executive, defeated Joseph Smith by a vote of 175 to 144. ...

East Newark, which tossed an 8-term Democrat in Tuesday’s primary, could be New Jersey’s least Republican town

June 7, 2019 3:15 pmJune 7, 2019 3:35 pm

How Democratic is East Newark, where an off-the-line challenger ousted a 78-year-old mayor who has been in office since 1987? Democrats have a 91%-1% voter registration edge in the smallest municipality in Hudson County. Of the 690 registered voters in...

In East Newark, eight-term mayor faces first opponent in 16 years

May 7, 2019 4:41 pmMay 7, 2019 4:44 pm

Hudson County’s longest-serving mayor is facing his first challenger in sixteen years. Joseph R. Smith, 78, the mayor of East Newark (pop. 2,406) since 1987, is defending his seat in the June Democratic primary against Dina Grilo, a 47-year-old executive...