20 Years After Famous Speech, Will Ex-NJ Gov. McGreevey Get 'Re-Entry' To Elected Office?

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Next month will mark 20 years since New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey shocked even the most seasoned political observers by holding an afternoon press conference to announce that he was a "gay American" and that he would resign as governor.

It was a surprising announcement at a time when much silence still surrounded the LGBT+ community. But the focus on McGreevey's sexual orientation distracted from the fact that if the rest of the disclosure was true, he had hired an alleged paramour for a state security post three years after 9/11.

The speech on Aug. 12, 2004 actually marked McGreevey's resignation from elected office completely. He then dedicated his years to studying at a theological seminary and running a job training program in Jersey City. Five years ago, during Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop's administration, McGreevey was fired from the Jersey City Employment and Job Training program with no explanation, prompting lots of political theories.

Today, McGreevey lives in Jersey City, rehabilitates prisoners as chairman of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation, and has been a vocal candidate for Jersey City mayor in 2025, when he'd succeed Fulop. He also runs a charitable Civic Association named for his parents, who once lived in Jersey City.

Among the candidates who've entered the 2025 mayoral race so far, McGreevey has been vocal in amplifying Jersey City issues that have not gotten enough attention beyond city limits, including a series of chaotic events at the Jersey City Board of Education affecting thousands of students, with the board majority voting to remove their president and vice president.

Back in February, McGreevey stuck his neck out to publicly criticize an expensive plan to bring a satellite of Paris' Pompidou Museum to the city. Ultimately, the money was withdrawn from the state budget and the plan scrapped.

McGreevey faces Hudson County Commissioner (formerly freeholder) Bill O'Dea, Councilwoman Joyce Watterman, and former school board member Mussab Ali.

"I wish him well," McGreevey told Jersey City Patch in April, when Ali became the latest candidate to enter the race.

Initially, some residents said they didn't realize McGreevey had even moved to Jersey City, and argued that the ex-governor didn't understand the nuances of the area. In January, McGreevey appeared to have blocked on Twitter a local artist, Amy Wilson, whose charity work and even-handed takes on local politics have made her influential on social media. Wilson followed up by saying the pair would meet or coffee soon — and they have, Wilson wrote in her next newsletter.

"Jim McGreevey is a fascinating guy with a quick mind and buckets of charm," she wrote. "He arrived to our meeting perfectly punctually and was exceedingly generous with his time, meeting with me for nearly two hours." (Read more about their meeting here).

Late last year, McGreevey released his announcement video, "Second Chances," talking about his resignation and his subsequent work with prisoners.

He chose to rehabilitate prisoners as part of studies at the General Theological Seminary, his daughter noted.

"What's the point if we just throw everyone away who's ever made a mistake?" she asks in the video, saying that one of his priorities will be keeping Jersey City affordable for people like her, who want to consider living there. The city has transformed into a magnet for recent college graduates, but that means rents have skyrocketed, placing longtime tenants in a tough spot.

McGreevey has been criscrossing Jersey City, holding listening tours and inviting people to walk with him. He did so this past Sunday, and will announce future walks here and here.

In March, he wrote in an op-ed in a local news source, "I had an adult consensual affair with another man ... whom I had employed as a Counselor to the Governor, which included advice on national security issues. As I have conceded for 20 years, employing [the man], who was not qualified for such a role, was a decision I ought not to have made." He said he takes responsibility for his actions and has learned from them.

McGreevey's resignation speech came when he was 47 years old, at at a time before social media. The rumors flew by phone and email up until the actual start of the speech. Times have changed. Will people put their faith in McGreevey to fix whatever ails Jersey City?

You can watch McGreevey's 2004 speech here.