(NewsNation) — Voters in Jersey City, New Jersey, will cast ballots to choose their next mayor.
Seven people are running to replace the current Democratic mayor, Steve Fulop, who is stepping down after three terms.
The candidates in the crowded nonpartisan field include former Democratic Governor of New Jersey Jim McGreevey, Hudson County Commissioner and former City Councilman Bill O’Dea, City Councilman James Solomon, former school board president Mussab Ali, police officer Christina Freeman, musician Kalki Jayne-Rose and current President of the City Council Joyce Watterman.
Affordability has been a key issue and common thread for most 2025 races, including the statewide New Jersey gubernatorial race and the Jersey City local election.
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McGreevey is a notable name in the race. He became the country’s first openly gay governor after he publicly admitted to having an extramarital affair with a man, Golan Cipel, an Israeli naval officer he appointed as the state’s homeland security adviser in 2002, as reported by The Associated Press.
Cipel quit only a few months into his tenure and threatened to sue McGreevy for sexual harassment, expediting McGreevy’s eventual resignation in 2004. Despite never being charged with a crime, McGreevy has faced criticism from his opponents for the circumstances surrounding his resignation.
If a candidate doesn’t receive at least 50% of the vote, a runoff election will take place Dec. 2.
Polls in New Jersey close at 8 p.m. ET. Follow the results of the Jersey City mayoral election in the tracker below:
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
