Updated on: December 2, 2025 / 11:29 PM EST / CBS New York
James Solomon has been elected mayor of Jersey City, the Associated Press projects. Solomon, a progressive city councilman, defeated former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey, who resigned in 2004 after admitting to an affair with a male staff member. The race was called less than an hour after polls closed.
Seven candidates ran on Nov. 4, but none received 50% of the vote, prompting a runoff election between Solomon and McGreevey.
Solomon declared victory Tuesday night. “I believe in the people of Jersey City, and today that belief has been rewarded,” he said. “And we sent a message to the entire state of New Jersey that the people of Jersey City cannot be bought.” In a statement he pledged to “build a more affordable Jersey City, where everyone has a chance to thrive and where the people are put first, not developers and special interests. My promise to Jersey City is simple: I will be a mayor for you.”
McGreevey conceded and congratulated Solomon. When asked whether he plans to run again, McGreevey smiled, shook his head and said, “No.”
Affordability was a central issue in the runoff. Although both candidates are Democrats and party affiliations did not appear on the ballot, they campaigned on competing approaches to housing and developer regulation. Solomon said he would “get tough on developers and force them to build housing you can afford,” cap rent increases and prevent sudden steep rent hikes. McGreevey called for requiring that a share of market-rate projects — about 20% — be affordable housing integrated into the same building.
Voters who turned out cited rising taxes and the high cost of living. “Just in, I think, 2022 alone, our taxes shot up by, like, 20, 30%,” resident Mike Liu said. “I don’t think anything is really that affordable anymore,” said resident Nisrit Osman.
The campaign grew heated at times. Solomon accused McGreevey of being backed by the political machine and developers; McGreevey pushed back, blaming rising property taxes on city government under leaders like Solomon. Both candidates agreed the city needs safer streets and more police officers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.