Bhalla has $75,000 haul at first Assembly fundraiser

Three weeks after launching his candidacy, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla raised more than $75,000 for his State Assembly campaign Wednesday night, according to his campaign.

Last month, Bhalla declared his intention to run for the Democratic nomination for State Assembly in the 32nd district, which encompasses Hoboken and a portion of Jersey City, rather than for a third term as mayor.

“As mayor of Hoboken, I have earned national recognition for leading the way on affordable housing, safe streets, climate change, and building a welcoming and inclusive community,” he said, adding that he is confident he will have the means to speak directly to primary voters about his accomplishments.

Bhalla received almost 60% of the vote in the 32nd district during his 2024 campaign to unseat Rep. Robert J. Menendez (D-Jersey City) in the 9th district Democratic primary.

Speaking at the fundraiser was Assemblyman John Allen (D-Hoboken), a strong Bhalla ally who is not running for reelection. On a ticket led by mayoral candidate James Solomon, Mamta Singh and Democratic municipal chairman Joe Quintero of Hoboken also ran for a Jersey City council seat.

Along with Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-Jersey City), former Murphy administration official Katie Brennan, Jenny Pu, the director of the Hoboken Public Library, and Jersey City Public Safety official Crystal Fonseca, Bhalla is one of five candidates vying for the seat. The Hudson County Democratic Committee supports Fonseca and Pu.

As our assemblyman, I will work tirelessly to lower the unreasonably high cost of living for families in Jersey City and Hoboken and to establish New Jersey as a real and visible barrier against the foolish policies of the Trump Administration. “Bhalla said.”