The 2026 Hudson County Power List

Power in Hudson County is no longer about one party line or one machine. It’s about who can win competitive races, organize support across cities, and survive real contests. Influence today is shaped through networks, coalition-building, and the ability to drive outcomes beyond your own base. These ten individuals are leading, building, or redefining what power looks like in Hudson County.

1. James Solomon
   • Jersey City Mayor Solomon’s victory was a defining moment. By defeating Jim McGreevey, who was backed by Sen. Brian Stack, Solomon shifted the conversation around political viability. He is now widely seen as a gatekeeper for candidates running as reformers and progressives. His endorsement has become a marker of seriousness for nontraditional candidates. With his win, he now leads Hudson County’s largest city and commands the attention of organizers and operatives across the county. The challenge ahead is managing a broad, energized coalition while delivering results in office. It’s sometimes easier to become number one than to stay number one.
2. Brian Stack
   • Stack is unquestionably one of the strongest and most consistent political forces in Hudson County. He is one of the last remaining hybrid State Senator–Mayors, a model that was later banned (though he was grandfathered in). Stack backed Larry Wainstein in a successful North Bergen legislative race, gaining ground in a highly competitive area. He continues to lead a disciplined North Hudson network and remains a key partner of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO).
3. Rob Menendez, Jr.
   • Despite facing public attention related to his father’s legal case, Menendez remains aligned with Hudson’s established leadership. His position provides access to national platforms and fundraising networks, and he continues to play a key role in the Stack-led political camp. However, a challenge could be ahead. Mussab Ali is weighing a run, and if Solomon’s camp supports it, the race could become a major test between progressive momentum and traditional alliances.
4. Craig Guy
   • Chair Guy holds both the executive office and the chairmanship of the Hudson County Democratic Organization. While the end of “the line” has reduced the HCDO’s automatic advantage, it still controls resources, relationships, and formal endorsements. In recent elections, candidates won without HCDO backing, and in some cases, ran directly against it. Still, Guy remains a key figure in countywide governance, with close ties to Stack, Albio Sires, Richard Turner, and Wayne Zitt. His influence is no longer uncontested, but his position remains significant.
5. Frank Gilmore
   • Gilmore’s political standing comes from local credibility and community trust. He holds a secure seat and operates independently of major political machines. In 2025, his endorsements carried weight, particularly in neighborhoods that are often overlooked in broader county politics. Gilmore has become a respected figure in city politics, with potential to grow beyond his current base. His next step may determine whether he becomes a broader force across Hudson or continues as a key voice in Jersey City.
6. Katie Brennan and Ravi Bhalla
   • Assemblymembers Brennan and Bhalla won a competitive legislative race and now lead on policy issues from inside the statehouse. They serve as the leading legislative voices within the county’s progressive movement, helping to shape its message and organize supporters beyond local races. While not in executive roles, their influence comes from their ability to connect organizing energy to legislative outcomes. Their continued presence gives the reform-minded group credibility in Trenton.
7. Emily Jabbour
   • Mayor of Hoboken Jabbour leads a high-profile city with its own distinct political dynamics. Her win over Mike Russo, a candidate with long-standing family name recognition, showed strong campaign execution and base loyalty. She has remained independent from both the Solomon-aligned group and the traditional Democratic establishment. While her focus remains on Hoboken, her role as mayor keeps her in play countywide. Whether she becomes a larger regional player remains to be seen.
8. Mussab Ali
   • Ali finished fourth in the Jersey City mayoral race but emerged with momentum. His campaign built support among younger voters and gained attention through a strong digital presence. Now exploring a run for Congress, Ali could shift the county’s political landscape again. If Solomon’s group supports him in a challenge against Rep. Menendez, it could set up a major proxy contest. The presence of Sacco-aligned figures at Solomon’s victory event has only added to speculation about how coalitions may realign ahead of a primary.
9. Larry Wainstein
   • Assemblymember Wainstein has been a long-time candidate for mayor in North Bergen, but 2025 marked a breakthrough. Backed by Sen. Stack, he won a legislative seat, taking over the Assembly seat previously held by Julio Marenco, a Sacco ally. His win reflected a shift in North Bergen’s balance of power and signaled the emergence of a new leadership track. Wainstein is now widely expected to run for mayor again in 2027, and this time may have the backing, office, and network to change the outcome.
10. Nick Sacco
    • Mayor of North Bergen Sacco remains in office and retains influence through long-standing relationships and remaining allies like Hudson County Commissioner Robert Baselice. However, his camp has experienced key losses, including in recent proxy contests. There is growing attention on whether he will step back and support future leaders such as Hugo Cabrera. Sacco’s role in North Bergen politics remains important, but the overall structure he built is clearly undergoing transition.