Ras Baraka Archives - New Jersey Globe

Bob Smith will make decision on re-election to Senate by Thanksgiving

June 12, 2026 10:53 amJune 12, 2026 3:30 pm

Veteran State Sen. Bob Smith (D-Piscataway) hasn’t decided if he’ll seek re-election to his 17th district Senate seat next year, but he promised a final decision by Thanksgiving. There has been speculation in recent months that Smith, the 79-year-old chairman...

Newark South Ward runoff is today

June 9, 2026 6:00 amJune 8, 2026 2:17 pm

Voters in Newark’s South Ward head to the polls today to decide a runoff election for a city council seat between incumbent Patrick Council and challenger Asia Norton, a former school board member, in a contest that will determine whether...

N.J. sues over blocked health inspection at Delaney Hall; Newark plans to expand effort to shut facility down

June 2, 2026 12:09 pmJune 2, 2026 2:41 pm

The conflict over Delaney Hall is once again spilling into the courts on Tuesday, with state officials suing the company operating the detention center over its refusal to allow state health inspectors full access to the facility, and the mayor...

Baraka backs Engel for Essex County Commissioner

May 23, 2026 7:08 amMay 22, 2026 9:20 pm

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has endorsed Deborah Engel, a former deputy mayor of Maplewood, for one of four at-large Essex County Commissioner seats. Baraka is already backing Marques-Aquil Lewis in a six-candidate race that includes four candidates who won the...

Baraka endorses progressive Piscataway slate

May 22, 2026 10:27 amMay 22, 2026 12:01 pm

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka endorsed a slate of progressive Piscataway council candidates in their bid against incumbents in the town. The duel between the progressive challengers and the party-backed incumbents has brought in a flurry of statewide aid, and Baraka...

Baraka backs Aljarrah in Passaic County commissioner race

May 21, 2026 7:30 amMay 20, 2026 6:04 pm

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka endorsed Ali Aljarrah for Passaic County commissioner on Thursday morning, becoming the latest high-profile progressive to back Aljarrah. Aljarrah, a senior adviser at CAIR Action NJ, is challenging party-backed candidates for the Democratic nomination next month....

Baraka’s fourth term comes with some asterisks

May 18, 2026 6:42 pmMay 18, 2026 11:57 pm

There was good news and bad news for Newark Mayor Ras Baraka in last week’s non-partisan municipal election: he was re-elected by a wide margin, but not as impressively as his last two races; and he retains a council majority,...