Sharpe James Archives - New Jersey Globe

Trailblazer: Congressman Donald Payne Sr.

January 16, 2023 12:14 amJanuary 15, 2023 4:45 pm

Donald Payne, Sr. (1934-2012) was the first Black to represent New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives. He had run for Congress twice before winning the seat in 1988. In 1970, Payne became the first African American to serve...

Trailblazer: Senator Ronald Rice

January 16, 2023 12:09 amJanuary 15, 2023 11:43 pm

Ronald L. Rice (D-Newark) is the longest-serving Black legislator in New Jersey history and has made his mark as an advocate for social justice and civil rights. Rice was elected to the State Senate in a 1986 special election following...

Trailblazer: U.S. Senator Cory Booker

January 16, 2023 12:07 amJanuary 15, 2023 11:42 pm

Cory Booker, is the first Black to win statewide office in New Jersey. He was elected to the United States Senate in 2013, winning a special election to replace the late Frank R. Lautenberg. Booker sought the 2020 Democratic nomination...

Trailblazer: Mayor Kenneth Gibson

January 16, 2023 12:04 amJanuary 15, 2023 7:44 pm

Kenneth Gibson (1932-2019) became the first Black to serve as mayor of a major northeastern city when he ousted two-term incumbent Hugh Addonizio in 1970. Gibson had served as an engineer for the New Jersey Highway Department and as the...

Judge says James can’t return to public office

March 15, 2022 12:04 pmMarch 21, 2022 4:38 pm

Sharpe James will not be permitted to mount a political comeback for the Newark City Council this year after a Superior Court Judge ruled that his criminal conviction forever prohibits his ability to hold public office. “It’s obvious to me...

Sharpe James asks judge to let him on the ballot

March 14, 2022 6:59 pmMarch 15, 2022 12:04 am

Sharpe James wants to return to public office and has filed a lawsuit alleging that the Newark City Clerk improperly rejected his nominating petitions to seek at at-large city council seat in the upcoming May non-partisan municipal elections. The 86-year-old...

With petitions rejected, James must now convince judge that 2008 court order is invalid

March 4, 2022 1:45 pmMarch 4, 2022 5:45 pm

Newark officials are trying to stop Sharpe James from running for city council this year, perhaps because they think he can win. The 85-year-old James, who served on the city council from 1970 to 1986, as mayor of the state’s...