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Mayoral election in Jersey City, New Jersey (2025)

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← 2021
2025 Jersey City elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: August 21, 2025
General election: November 4, 2025
Runoff election: December 2, 2025
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor
Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections)
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2025

The city of Jersey City, New Jersey, is holding a general election for mayor on November 4, 2025. A runoff election is scheduled for December 2, 2025. The filing deadline for this election was August 21, 2025.

As of 2025, Jersey City does not have term limits for the position of mayor. Mayors serve a four-year term.


Elections

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Candidates and results

Note: Ballotpedia will add the candidate list for this election once we have it.

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Mayor of Jersey City

The following candidates are running in the general election for Mayor of Jersey City on November 4, 2025.

Candidate
Image of Mussab Ali
Mussab Ali (Nonpartisan)
Image of Christina Freeman
Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
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Kalki Jayne-Rose (Nonpartisan)
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James McGreevey (Nonpartisan)
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William O'Dea (Nonpartisan)
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James Solomon (Nonpartisan)
Image of Joyce Watterman
Joyce Watterman (Nonpartisan)

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Additional elections on the ballot

See also: New Jersey elections, 2025

What's on your ballot?
Click here to find out!

June 10, 2025
November 4, 2025

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

Putting People Before Politics

I will lead with integrity, transparency, and accountability, ensuring that the needs of residents, including the youth, guide every decision made in Jersey City. I’ll make sure young people have a voice in shaping Jersey City’s future.

A Safer & Affordable Jersey City I intend to strengthen community-led public safety initiatives and end rent control loopholes, I’ll fight to keep neighborhoods safe and ensure residents can afford to stay in their homes.

Preserving Our City’s Legacy While Building Its Future

I will protect the cultural history and diversity that make Jersey City unique, while fostering sustainable development, small business growth, and opportunities for every generation.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

Public Safety: Strengthening community-led safety initiatives, building trust between residents and law enforcement, and ensuring every neighborhood is safe.

Housing Affordability: Closing rent control loopholes, expanding affordable housing, and creating homeownership pathways for longtime and returning residents.

Youth Empowerment: Expanding mentorship, vocational training, arts, and youth advisory boards so young people have a real voice in city policy. Sustainable Development & Equity:

Promoting growth that benefits everyone, protecting cultural history, supporting small businesses, and investing in infrastructure and green spaces.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

I look up to Viola Richardson, a history-maker in Jersey City who served both as a police officer and as the first African American woman elected to the City Council. She broke barriers while staying connected to the people she served, leading with accessibility, honesty, and compassion. Her life’s work showed that you can serve with both strength and empathy. I want to follow her example by remaining grounded in the community, leading with integrity, and ensuring every resident feels seen and represented.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

The most important characteristics for an elected official are integrity, transparency, accountability, and empathy. Integrity ensures decisions are made honestly and in the public’s best interest. Transparency builds trust by keeping residents informed and involved. Accountability means owning both successes and mistakes. And empathy allows an official to truly understand and respond to the needs of all communities.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

As Mayor, the core responsibilities are to lead with vision, integrity, and accountability while putting the needs of the people first. That means ensuring public safety through well-trained and community-centered services; keeping our neighborhoods clean, safe, and vibrant; managing the city’s finances responsibly and transparently; and making sure every decision promotes fairness, opportunity, and quality of life for all residents. It means protecting housing affordability, supporting small businesses, and holding developers accountable so growth benefits everyone—not just a few. I believe the Mayor must be the city’s chief advocate, problem-solver, and bridge-builder, working every day to make sure Jersey City is a place where families can thrive for generations.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

I want my legacy to be that I became the first Black female mayor of Jersey City and the first in my family to step into the realm of political office—something I know makes my family proud. I want my journey to inspire future generations to believe they can achieve extraordinary things, even when the odds are against them. Part of that legacy will be the Freeman Legacy Housing Program, which helps families afford and keep a piece of Jersey City for themselves and future generations.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

The first historical event I remember is September 11, 2001. I was 13 years old and in class when I saw the first plane crash into the first tower, and then watched as both towers collapsed. It was a horrific sight, especially given Jersey City’s proximity to New York. I will never forget that day.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

I started working at Burger King at the age of 16 as a drive-thru cashier for four years.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

My favorite book is The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein. It’s a powerful reminder to trust the process of life, even during uncertainty, and to approach challenges with faith instead of fear. The book inspires me to lead with positivity, stay grounded in my purpose, and believe that every setback can be transformed into an opportunity for growth.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

One of my biggest struggles has been balancing my responsibilities as a single mother, a police officer, a student, and a community leader while still pursuing my dreams. There were times when the weight of those roles felt overwhelming, but they also taught me resilience, discipline, and the importance of prioritizing what truly matters. Those challenges shaped me into who I am today—determined, compassionate, and committed to helping others overcome their own obstacles.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

To me, being a mayor means being the representative of the people—someone who listens before acting, puts the community’s needs ahead of politics, and uses the office to uplift every neighborhood. It’s about setting a vision that reflects the hopes of the people, making tough decisions with integrity, and showing up in times of both celebration and crisis. A true mayor leads by example, builds trust, and works every day to make sure residents feel safe, heard, and proud to call the city home.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

N/A
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

The ideal relationship between the mayor and city council should be rooted in mutual respect, open communication, and a shared commitment to serving the public. While the mayor oversees day-to-day operations and the council focuses on legislation and policy, both must work as partners—aligning priorities, exchanging information honestly, and holding each other accountable. Disagreements will happen, but they should be handled professionally and with the understanding that the ultimate goal is improving the quality of life for all residents. Collaboration, not competition.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

I love that the city is very diverse and the great resturants.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

Over the next decade, Jersey City’s greatest challenges will be affordability, education, and infrastructure. Rising housing costs continue to push out longtime residents, and without stronger protections and truly affordable development, we risk losing the very communities that make our city vibrant. Our schools and educational facilities need modernization, investment in technology, and expanded programs to meet the needs of a growing and diverse student population. At the same time, aging infrastructure—from roads and transit to water and sewer systems—must be upgraded to handle future growth and climate impacts.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

The ideal relationship between the city and the state government should be a partnership built on collaboration, trust, and mutual respect. The city should have the flexibility to address local needs while the state provides support, resources, and policy alignment that strengthen our ability to serve residents. This means open lines of communication, joint problem-solving on issues like housing, infrastructure, and public safety, and ensuring that state legislation reflects the realities and priorities of our city.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

The ideal relationship between the city and the federal government should be cooperative, supportive, and focused on delivering tangible benefits to residents. The federal government should provide funding, technical assistance, and policy guidance that help the city address major challenges—such as infrastructure upgrades, housing affordability, climate resilience, and public safety—while respecting local priorities and decision-making.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

The ideal relationship between the mayor’s office and law enforcement should be rooted in trust, accountability, and shared commitment to community safety. The mayor must ensure law enforcement has the resources, training, and leadership needed to protect residents while also upholding transparency, fairness, and respect for all communities. This partnership should balance proactive crime prevention with community engagement.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

N/A
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

One story that has stayed with me is of a homeless family who had been passed from one system to another, never finding real stability. Their struggle with poverty and displacement highlighted the deep gaps in our safety net and how easy it is for families to fall through the cracks. Hearing their experience reinforced my commitment to creating stronger housing programs, supportive services, and policies that ensure no family in Jersey City is left without a safe place to call home.
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Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan)

I am a self-published children's book author; my pen name is C. L. Freeman.


You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Christina Freeman

Image of Christina Freeman

WebsiteFacebook

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Christina Freeman Lifelong Jersey City resident • Single mother • Police officer • Honors student at NJCU. I was born and raised in Jersey City — from Greenville to West Bergen — and I’ve dedicated my life to serving this community. As a police officer, I’ve worked on the frontlines of public safety; as a mother, I understand the urgency of building a city where families can thrive; and as a student of Sociology, I’ve studied the systems that shape our lives. I’m running for Mayor to bring transparency, equity, and opportunity to every neighborhood. My vision is rooted in protecting our residents, making housing affordable, supporting small businesses, and preserving the cultural legacy that makes Jersey City home. I believe leadership means working with the people, not just for them — and I’m ready to stand up for Jersey City."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Putting People Before Politics I will lead with integrity, transparency, and accountability, ensuring that the needs of residents, including the youth, guide every decision made in Jersey City. I’ll make sure young people have a voice in shaping Jersey City’s future.

A Safer & Affordable Jersey City I intend to strengthen community-led public safety initiatives and end rent control loopholes, I’ll fight to keep neighborhoods safe and ensure residents can afford to stay in their homes.

Preserving Our City’s Legacy While Building Its Future I will protect the cultural history and diversity that make Jersey City unique, while fostering sustainable development, small business growth, and opportunities for every generation.

Mayoral partisanship

Jersey City has a Democratic mayor. As of September 2025, 66 mayors in the largest 100 cities by population are affiliated with the Democratic Party, 23 are affiliated with the Republican Party, one is affiliated with the Libertarian Party, three are independents, five identify as nonpartisan or unaffiliated, and two mayors' affiliations are unknown. Click here for a list of the 100 largest cities' mayors and their partisan affiliations.

Mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan in most of the nation's largest cities. However, many officeholders are affiliated with political parties. Ballotpedia uses one or more of the following sources to identify each officeholder's partisan affiliation: (1) direct communication from the officeholder, (2) current or previous candidacy for partisan office, or (3) identification of partisan affiliation by multiple media outlets.

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Take our candidate survey

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We ask all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Our survey helps voters better understand how their candidates think about the world and how they intend to govern—information they need to feel confident they're picking the best person for the role.

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About the city

See also: Jersey City, New Jersey

Jersey City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey. As of 2020, its population was 292,449.

City government

See also: Mayor-council government

The city of Jersey City uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body while the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[1]

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City New Jersey
Population 292,449 9,288,994
Land area (sq mi) 14 7,354
Race and ethnicity**
White 33.6% 65.5%
Black/African American 23.1% 13.4%
Asian 26.1% 9.7%
Native American 0.6% 0.3%
Pacific Islander 0% 0%
Other (single race) N/A 6.4%
Multiple 6.8% 4.8%
Hispanic/Latino 26.9% 20.4%
Education
High school graduation rate 88.4% 90.3%
College graduation rate 49.8% 40.7%
Income
Median household income $76,444 $85,245
Persons below poverty level 15.7% 9.7%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


See also

Jersey City, New Jersey New Jersey Municipal government Other local coverage
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ City of Jersey City Municipal Code, Art. II.3-3, Art. III.3-10, accessed October 28, 2014
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