No Mayor Yet: Solomon, McGreevey Advance to Mayoral Runoff

Councilmember James Solomon and former Governor Jim McGreevey will face off in a runoff election for Jersey City mayor, following Tuesday’s municipal election in which no candidate received a majority of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Hudson County Clerk’s Office.

With 92.71% of districts reporting, Solomon led the field with 17,200 votes (29.02%), followed by McGreevey with 15,042 votes (25.38%). Bill O’Dea placed third with 12,750 votes (21.51%), while Mussab Ali received 10,843 votes (18.29%). The runoff is mandated by city law when no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote.

In a statement released Tuesday night, Solomon said, “The voters in Jersey City have sent an unambiguous message tonight: they want change, they want affordability and they want a clean, ethical government that they can be proud of.”

He continued, “The contrast in this runoff could not be clearer: while I have fought my entire career against the corrupt political machine that makes everything more expensive, Jim McGreevey is the living embodiment of the corrupt, failed, politicians of the past.”

McGreevey, speaking at his campaign headquarters, focused on his leadership record, stating, “What this race will be about is our records. Our records of accomplishment. Not what we say, but what we do.”

In the Ward E council race, Eleana Little won outright with 4,815 votes (52.13%), avoiding a runoff. In Ward F, Councilmember Frank “Educational” Gilmore secured re-election with 4,379 votes (56.16%). Both were endorsed by Solomon and were the only council candidates to win their seats outright in the first round of voting.

All other ward council races will head to a runoff election. Results remain unofficial until certified by election officials.