6 Vie To Represent Hoboken, Jersey City In Heated Assembly Primary Race

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Six local Democrats are running in the June primary to be the party nominees for 32nd District Assembly on the November ballot. The 32nd District includes Hoboken and part of Jersey City.

Right now, Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez and Assemblyman John Allen, two Democrats, represent both towns, but Allen has decided not to run for another two-year term.

Ramirez is instead running on a ticket with Jersey City Ward D (Heights) Councilman Youssef Saleh.

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who has said he won't run again for the mayoral spot, is running for Assembly on a ticket with Jersey City-based housing expert Katie Brennan.

Finally, Hoboken Library Director Jennie Pu is running with Jersey City Director of Buildings and Street Maintenance Crystal Fonseca.

Pu and Fonseca are running with the backing of the county's longtime political machine, the Hudson County Democratic Organization.

Numerous attack ads have been sent out against Bhalla, referencing his long record as Hoboken mayor. Some are signed by a political action committee called Hudson Votes Project, which is supporting Pu and Fonseca and lists a UPS Store box in Newport as its mailing address.

Residents who hope to vote in the June 10 New Jersey primary elections — including for governor and for local legislative posts like Assembly — must have registered by this Tuesday, according to the state. In Hudson County, the instructions are here.

Post A Letter About The Race

Patch will be publishing profiles and more stories on the candidates in the near future.

Here is the primary election timeline.

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