Primary Election Profile: Councilman Saleh Wants To Serve Hoboken, Jersey City In Assembly

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

Patch will profile each of the six candidates.

Below are candidate Yousef Saleh's answers to the questions. He's running on a slate with incumbent Jessica Ramirez. Even though there are three slates, Democratic voters can pick any two nominees in the June 10 primary.

Background

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 now running on a ticket with Jersey City Ward D (Heights) Councilman Yousef Saleh.

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. They have the backing of the well-funded political group, the Hudson County Democratic Organization.

In the primaries, candidates from each party compete to get the most votes to represent their party on the General Election ballot in November.

Residents who hope to vote in the New Jersey primary elections — including for governor and for local legislative posts like Assembly — must cast their ballot by or on June 10.

Profile: Yousef Saleh

Name: Yousef Saleh

Age: 36

Current Town: Jersey City

Hometown: Jersey City

Educational Background: A proud product of Jersey City’s public schools, I attended P.S. 28 Christa McAuliffe School and graduated from McNair Academic High School. I went on to earn my degrees from Rutgers University and Rutgers Law School.

Government & Community Experience: I’ve had the honor of serving as the Councilman for Jersey City’s Ward D since April 2020, where I’ve focused on delivering results that matter—investing in infrastructure, improving quality of life, and making government more accessible for all.

Current Full-Time Role: Full-time Councilman representing the hardworking families of Ward D in Jersey City. I left my corporate career on Wall Street to serve my residents during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Family Background: I’m the proud son of Palestinian immigrants and one of eight siblings—yes, Ihave seven amazing sisters! I’m also happily engaged to my fiancée, Kat, and we’re looking forward to getting married later this year.

Learn More: ramirezandsalehforassembly.com

3 Questions

1. What differentiates you from the other candidates running in the Democratic primary?

I’m not a newcomer to public service. I've been doing the work. As a lifelong resident of Jersey City, I know our neighborhoods block by block. I’ve served on the City Council, delivered real results, and fought for affordable housing, safer streets, and better transit access.

I’ve built coalitions, passed legislation, and shown up every day for my community. I'm the only Council member to never miss a Council meeting or a vote, chair every budget hearing, and left my job on Wall Street to serve my community during the Covid-19 pandemic. This isn’t a stepping stone for me, it’s a continuation of the work I’ve already been doing. I’m grounded in the needs of our people and have a track record of listening, responding, and delivering. That’s what sets me apart.

2. What are the biggest issues in the 32nd District Assembly race, and how do you intend to solve them?

People are being priced out of the places they grew up in. Affordability, housing, transit, and infrastructure are the issues I hear about constantly from residents in Jersey City and Hoboken. I’ll fight for more state funding for public transportation, hold developers accountable, and push for real affordability not just buzzwords or sound bites. I’ll make sure working families aren’t left behind and that our communities get their fair share from Trenton.

3. If there is anything else you'd like voters to know, you can use this space.

This campaign isn’t about slogans. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and delivering for the people who call Jersey City and Hoboken home. I was born and raised here. I went to school here. I’ve walked these streets my whole life and I know what our communities need because I’ve lived it. I’ve been in the trenches, advocating for better housing, safer neighborhoods, reliable mass transit, and real investment in our public schools. I understand the urgency because I’ve felt the pressure so many families are under right now. I’m running to make sure our voices are not only heard in Trenton but respected and acted on. I will always be accessible, transparent, and accountable. This isn’t politics for me—it’s personal. I want every child in our district to have the same or better opportunities than I had growing up. I want seniors to be able to stay in their homes. I want small businesses to thrive. I want people to feel seen and supported by someone who understands their struggles.

That is the kind of leadership I will bring to the Assembly, and I will never stop fighting for the people who raised me.

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Here is the primary election timeline.