Little Wins Ward E Council Seat, Avoids Runoff

Eleana Little won the Ward E council seat in Jersey City on Tuesday, securing 52.13% of the vote and avoiding a runoff election. With 96.3% of districts reporting, Little received 4,815 votes out of 9,236 cast.

Little was backed by outgoing Ward E Councilmember James Solomon, who is running for mayor. Solomon led in Tuesday’s mayoral election with 11,891 votes, ahead of former Governor Jim McGreevey with 9,874. As no candidate secured a majority, Solomon and McGreevey are expected to advance to a runoff.

Little ran on a platform focused on affordability, infrastructure, and transparency. Her closest challenger, Ryan Baylock, received 1,429 votes (15.47%). Other candidates included Stacey Lawrence with 1,064 votes (11.52%), Alexander Hamilton with 1,040 votes (11.26%), and Daniel Israel with 871 votes (9.43%). There were 17 write-in votes.

Little and Ward F Councilmember Frank Gilmore were the only council candidates to secure their seats outright in the first round of voting. All other Jersey City ward council races, along with the mayoral contest, are headed to a runoff election after no candidate in those races reached the required majority threshold.

Results remain unofficial until certified by election officials.