Ras J. Baraka
Ras Baraka is the Mayor of Newark in New Jersey. He assumed office on July 1, 2014. His current term ends on June 30, 2026.
Baraka is running for re-election for Mayor of Newark in New Jersey. He is on the ballot in the general election on May 12, 2026.[source]
Mayoral elections in Newark are nonpartisan. Baraka is affiliated with the Democratic Party.[1][2][3]
Biography
Baraka earned a bachelor's degree from Howard University and a graduate degree from St. Peter's University. Before becoming mayor, Baraka was a member of the Newark City Council, representing the South Ward from 2010 to 2014. Before that, he was an at-large council member from 2002 to 2005, during which time he also served as deputy mayor of Newark under former Newark Mayor Sharp James. In 2005, he was appointed to serve the remainder of former councilman Donald Tucker's term, who passed away earlier that year. Baraka held the seat until 2006.[4]
Elections
2026
See also: Mayoral election in Newark, New Jersey (2026)
General election
The general election will occur on May 12, 2026.
General election for Mayor of Newark
The following candidates are running in the general election for Mayor of Newark on May 12, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Ras Baraka (Nonpartisan) | |
| Douglas R. Davis (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Tanisha Garner (Nonpartisan) | ||
 | Noble Milton (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Sheila Montague (Nonpartisan) | |
| Debra Salters (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Nasheedah S. Singleton (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Jhamar Youngblood (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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2025
See also: New Jersey gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2025
General election
General election for Governor of New Jersey
Mikie Sherrill defeated Jack Ciattarelli, Vic Kaplan, and Joanne Kuniansky in the general election for Governor of New Jersey on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mikie Sherrill (D) | 56.9 | 1,896,610 |
 | Jack Ciattarelli (R) | 42.5 | 1,417,705 | |
 | Vic Kaplan (L) | 0.4 | 11,880 | |
| Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party) | 0.2 | 8,164 | ||
| Total votes: 3,334,359 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Karen Zaletel (Independent)
- Lily Benavides (G)
- Stephen Zielinski (G)
- Gerardo Cedrone (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey on June 10, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mikie Sherrill | 34.0 | 286,244 |
| Ras Baraka | 20.7 | 173,951 | |
 | Steve Fulop | 16.0 | 134,573 | |
 | Josh Gottheimer | 11.6 | 97,384 | |
 | Sean Spiller | 10.6 | 89,472 | |
 | Stephen Sweeney | 7.1 | 59,811 | |
| Total votes: 841,435 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey on June 10, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jack Ciattarelli | 67.8 | 316,283 |
 | Bill Spadea | 21.7 | 101,408 | |
 | Jon Bramnick | 6.2 | 29,130 | |
 | Mario Kranjac | 2.7 | 12,782 | |
 | Justin Barbera | 1.4 | 6,743 | |
 | Hans Herberg (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Total votes: 466,346 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- James Fazzone (R)
- Roger Bacon (R)
- Monica Brinson (R)
- Robert Canfield (R)
- Edward R. Durr (R)
Endorsements
Baraka received the following endorsements.
- U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D)
- U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D)
- Working Families Party
- 32BJ SEIU
- Collective PAC
- Emgage Action
- Good Government Coalition of New Jersey
- Mercer County Democratic Progressive Caucus
- New Jersey Citizen Action
- Rutgers American Association of University Professors (AAUP)-American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU) BJ32
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU) New Jersey State Council
- Workers United Laundry, Distribution and Food Service Joint Board
2022
See also: Mayoral election in Newark, New Jersey (2022)
General election
General election for Mayor of Newark
Incumbent Ras Baraka defeated Sheila Montague in the general election for Mayor of Newark on May 10, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ras Baraka (Nonpartisan) | 83.1 | 14,777 |
| Sheila Montague (Nonpartisan) | 16.9 | 3,007 | |
| Total votes: 17,784 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
The city of Newark, New Jersey, held a general election for mayor on May 8, 2018. Incumbent Ras J. Baraka defeated Newark City Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins to secure a second term as Mayor.
Chaneyfield Jenkins backed Baraka's 2014 mayoral bid, running as part of his slate of candidates. She later broke with the mayor.[5]
"When Ras Baraka said during the 2014 campaign 'When I become mayor, we become mayor,' he didn't mean all of us," she said. "He meant him and his brother. When he talks about a Newark we can believe in, many Newarkers don't believe in what he's doing. I took off my rose-colored glasses long ago."[6]
A Baraka campaign statement referred to Chaneyfield Jenkins only as a challenger, saying "Elections are a democratic process in which anyone can participate. The Mayor's focus remains set on moving Newark forward."[7]
The candidates differed on issues like development and education. Chaneyfield Jenkins opposed a Baraka-backed proposal mandating a number of low-income housing units in new residential developments. She was also against a state moratorium on charter school expansion that had Baraka's support.[8][9][10]
| Newark Mayor, General Election, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Ras Baraka Incumbent |
77.00% | 22,094 |
| Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins | 22.69% | 6,510 |
| Write-in votes | 0.31% | 90 |
| Total Votes | 28,694 | |
| Source: Essex County, "Official Results," accessed May 25, 2018 | ||
Endorsements
Baraka received endorsements from the following in 2018:[11]
- Gov. Phil Murphy
- New Jersey Democratic Party Chair John Currie
- Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo
- Newark City Council President Mildred C. Crump
- Newark City Councilman Augusto Amador
- Newark City Councilman Carlos M. Gonzalez
- Newark City Councilman John S. James
- Newark City Councilman Joseph A. McCallum, Jr.
- Newark City Councilman Eddie Osborne
- Newark City Councilman Luis Quintana
- Newark City Councilman Anibal Ramos, Jr.
Campaign finance
Baraka reported $699,527.21 in contributions and $243,056.65 in expenditures to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, leaving his campaign with $456,470.56 cash on hand as of October 15, 2017.[12]
2014
Elections for Mayor of Newark, New Jersey took place on May 12, 2014. Incumbent Luis Quintana did not seek re-election. Ras J. Baraka defeated Shavar D. Jeffries in the general election.[13][14]
| Newark Mayoral General Election, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Ras J. Baraka |
54.1% | 24,358 | |
| Shavar D. Jeffries | 45.7% | 20,593 | |
| Write-in | 0.2% | 106 | |
| Total Votes | 45,057 | ||
| Source: Essex County Clerk's Office - 2014 Election Results | |||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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You can ask Ras Baraka to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing info@rasforgovernor.com.
Campaign website
Baraka's campaign website stated the following:
The People’s Budget
In 2024, New Jersey’s budget is working well for the wealthiest by making the rest of us pay the bills.
New Jerseyans watch rent and property taxes increase at the same time they pay more for transportation, gas, groceries, insurance, healthcare, and all the while they receive fewer and less substantial services. But how have we responded? We’ve found even more ways to give the well off more breaks.
It’s unfair and it places the highest burden of running this state on the working class, poor and our most underserved communities. The budget process is backwards in New Jersey. We start from a place of scarcity. We ask ourselves, what crumbs do we have, and who should get them?
Instead it should start from a vision of equity and community, and the question should be, what do we need to attain it?
Housing Reimagined
The Housing Reimagined plan seeks to reshape New Jersey’s housing landscape, addressing the needs of every municipality. The state is short over 200,000 housing units, with thousands of families unable to find homes, and over 100,000 eligible residents unable to afford mortgages.
For years, politicians have made empty promises about lowering property taxes and making New Jersey more affordable, without addressing the core issue: a lack of housing supply.
The ongoing conflict between townships and the state over housing obligations has stalled progress, costing taxpayers while nothing gets built. Home rule, once beneficial, is now a barrier to the regional approach needed to solve the affordability crisis.
We’re emphasizing the importance of holding every municipality accountable and bridging the gap between planning and execution. The recent affordable housing law is just a start; more comprehensive solutions are essential.
Healthcare is a human right
We must lead with this truth: healthcare - including reproductive care - is a basic human right. This means that no one should be denied the treatment they need, and no one should have the power to dictate what a person can or cannot do with their own body. It means that women have the right to choose when, if, with whom, and how they have a family.
It also means that the systemic inequities built into our policies - like the fact that Black women in New Jersey are seven times more likely to die in childbirth than white women, or that pollution and poverty are concentrated in certain communities, making zip codes determinants of health - are not just failures of policy, they are violations of human rights.
Healthcare Reimagined is community-focused, equity-driven, and committed to addressing the full spectrum of factors that impact a person’s wellbeing. It’s ensuring the system doesn’t leave families in financial ruin and protects everyone’s right to health and dignity.
Healthcare is a human right
We must lead with this truth: healthcare - including reproductive care - is a basic human right. This means that no one should be denied the treatment they need, and no one should have the power to dictate what a person can or cannot do with their own body. It means that women have the right to choose when, if, with whom, and how they have a family.
It also means that the systemic inequities built into our policies - like the fact that Black women in New Jersey are seven times more likely to die in childbirth than white women, or that pollution and poverty are concentrated in certain communities, making zip codes determinants of health - are not just failures of policy, they are violations of human rights.
Healthcare Reimagined is community-focused, equity-driven, and committed to addressing the full spectrum of factors that impact a person’s wellbeing. It’s ensuring the system doesn’t leave families in financial ruin and protects everyone’s right to health and dignity.
Invest in New Jerseyans
In America, the sky is the limit. We pride ourselves on that ideal - the belief that anyone, through hard work and determination, can achieve their dreams. But let’s be clear: the measure of a society is not how high the most privileged can climb, but how solid the ground is for everyone else. Right now, our world is becoming increasingly fragile, our economy more volatile. It’s not because we’ve limited the sky, but because we’ve allowed the floor to be bottomless.
It is time to raise the floor. It is time to ensure that every worker, every family, and every community has a foundation they can stand on. By doing so, we’re not just helping individuals, we’re building a stronger, more resilient economy that benefits us all. Raising the floor for working people is not charity, it’s common sense. It’s an investment in the people who drive our economy forward every day, from the food service workers who feed us, to the delivery drivers who keep us connected, to the teachers and caregivers who shape the next generation.
Economic stability means families can afford healthier food, better healthcare, and safer housing, which reduces strain on public health systems and improves the quality of life for all of us. Financial stability gives parents the ability to support their children’s education, creating a more skilled, better-prepared workforce. When families have a fair shot at opportunity, we address the root causes of crime, creating safer streets and stronger communities. And when working families have money to spend, local businesses thrive, generating jobs and driving economic growth.
Democracy belongs to Everyone
A democracy’s strength is built on two pillars, participation and transparency. Here in New Jersey, we’ve recently made meaningful strides forward. We’ve expanded vote-by-mail and early voting, we’ve restored voting rights to people on probation and parole, and even with the Legislature trying to work around the Judge’s ruling, we’ve finally seen a crack in “The Line”. These are good steps for New Jersey, but we’re still leaving too many people behind. To build a strong democracy, New Jersey has a lot we can do to make every vote count, make voting as easy as possible, and ensure that the government remains transparent and accountable to the people.
To strengthen our democracy, we must align all elections with the national cycle to increase turnout and save taxpayer dollars. Modernizing registration with automatic and same-day options, alongside allowing 16-year-olds to vote in school board elections, will further expand participation. Ensuring fair ballots with randomized candidate placement eliminates confusion and undue influence. Reversing recent changes to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) will restore transparency and accountability in government. Finally, comprehensive campaign finance reform and enfranchising incarcerated individuals are crucial steps to ensure every voice is heard and wealth does not dictate political outcomes.
New Jersey has the potential to set the standard for a healthy, thriving democracy but we have to lean into, not away from, our Democratic values. Let’s make it easier to vote, make government more transparent, and ensure every voice is heard - not just those of the privileged. By uniting around these policies, we can show the nation what a truly fair and inclusive democracy can be.
A Vision for Environmental Justice and Climate Action
New Jersey is one of the most vulnerable states to climate change. We are also one of the most segregated states, by both class and race. That means our underserved communities are at the highest risk when it comes to climate change and environmental impact. As Mayor of Newark for the past decade, I have been on the front porch of climate change, witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of generations of environmental injustice.
That is why my administration has prioritized mitigating environmental impact in everything we do. We changed our zoning laws to require green infrastructure in all new developments. We launched RainReady Newark, a comprehensive green infrastructure program to combat flooding and improve stormwater management. We provided grants to community-based organizations for sustainability projects, including a sustainable food network. And we are on track to plant thousands of new trees across Newark.
In a city where one in four children has asthma, I understand the personal impact of climate inaction. If the state faces environmental challenges, Newark faces them twice. We must be aggressive in our response to climate change because New Jersey cannot afford to wait.
The time for bold, transformative climate action is now. By advancing policies that prioritize environmental justice and sustainability, we can ensure a healthier, greener, and more equitable future for all New Jersey residents.
— Ras Baraka's campaign website (March 22, 2026)
2025
Ras Baraka did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Ras Baraka did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Noteworthy events
ICE detention center protest and arrest (2025)
On May 9, 2025, Baraka was arrested by federal police and charged with trespassing after he participated in a protest outside of an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey.[15][16] On May 19, 2025, the Justice Department dropped the charges against Baraka.[17]
In a post on X, Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba said, “The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon. He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.”[18]
In response to his arrest, Baraka stated, "I was there for over an hour in that space, and nobody ever told me to move … not a single person, not an officer from ICE, not any of the security guards, nobody told me to leave that place." He added, "I was there as the mayor of the city exercising my right and duty as an elected official, supporting our Congress people, preparing for a press conference. I did not enter that place unlawfully; I did not break any laws ..."[19]
Baraka and congressional Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D), LaMonica McIver (D), and Rob Menendez (D) were gathered at Delaney Hall to protest its re-opening as a detention center. In April 2025, the city of Newark filed a lawsuit against the center's private operator, GEO Group, alleging that the company lacked the necessary permits to operate the facility as a detention center. GEO Group denied the allegations.[20][21][22]
|
|---|
| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
|
Baraka announced on December 23, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was vaccinated at the time he contracted the virus.[23]
Events and activity following the death of George Floyd
Baraka was mayor of Newark during the weekend of May 29-31, 2020, when events and activity took place in cities across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd. Events in Newark, New Jersey, began on Saturday, May 30, 2020, at the city's historic courthouse.[24] No curfews were issued. The national guard was not deployed.
| To read more about the death of George Floyd and subsequent events, click [show] to the right. | |||
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See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ NJ.com, "Ras Baraka win in Newark changes political landscape in Essex and beyond," May 18, 2014
- ↑ Observer, "In hard political terms, can Ras Baraka wield influence as Sharpe James did?" June 17, 2014
- ↑ Observer, "Baraka Announces 2018 Re-election Campaign With Support of NJ Democrats," June 22, 2017
- ↑ Ras J. Baraka, "About," accessed October 20, 2014
- ↑ Essex County Politics, "Baraka pressures Quintana, rolls out council slate in Newark mayoral race," March 8, 2014
- ↑ TAP into Newark, "Chaneyfield Jenkins launches bid to unseat Baraka," January 9, 2018
- ↑ Ras J. Baraka, "Mayor Ras Baraka's re-election campaign response to new challenger entering 2018 mayoral race," January 9, 2018
- ↑ TAP into Newark, "Baraka, Chaneyfield Jenkins battle over inclusionary zoning at council meeting," August 2, 2017
- ↑ Anibal Ramos Jr., "Newark City Council passes resolution opposing state legislation limiting charter school growth," May 12, 2015
- ↑ The Newark Report, "The plight of students in Newark's public school system," December 30, 2015
- ↑ Observer, "Baraka announces 2018 re-election campaign with support of NJ Democrats," June 22, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, "Candidate and Election Related Committee Listing," accessed March 28, 2018
- ↑ City of Newark, "Candidate list" accessed March 18, 2014
- ↑ City of Newark, "Unofficial election results," accessed May 13, 2014
- ↑ Insider NJ "Baraka Arrested for Trespassing at Controversial Immigrant Detention Facility" accessed May 9, 2025
- ↑ CBS News, "Newark Mayor Ras Baraka due in court Thursday to face trespassing charge at ICE detention facility," May 12, 2025
- ↑ X "Post by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba" accessed May 20, 2025
- ↑ X, "Alina Habba on X" accessed May 9, 2025
- ↑ Newsweek, "Ras Baraka Blasts Alina Habba After Arrest: 'Get Better Information'," May 10, 2025
- ↑ New Jersey Monitor, "City of Newark v. GEO Group," accessed May 9, 2025
- ↑ Politico, "New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka arrested at ICE facility," accessed May 9, 2025
- ↑ New Jersey Monitor, "Newark lawsuit aims to ‘cripple’ immigrant enforcement, prison company alleges," April 10, 2025
- ↑ Tap into Newark, "Newark Mayor Tests Positive for COVID, Credits Vaccine for Lack of Symptoms," December 23, 2021
- ↑ NJ.com, "George Floyd police brutality protest starts peacefully in Newark, with chants of ‘I can’t breathe’," May 30, 2020
- ↑ Washington Post, "The death of George Floyd: What video and other records show about his final minutes," May 30, 2020
- ↑ The New York Times, "8 Minutes and 46 Seconds: How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody," May 31, 2020
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 USA Today, "Medical examiner and family-commissioned autopsy agree: George Floyd's death was a homicide," June 1, 2020
- ↑ Associated Press, "Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death," April 20, 2021
- ↑ CNN, "Protests across America after George Floyd's death," accessed June 2, 2020
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Luis Quintana |
Mayor of Newark 2014-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Newark City Council South Ward 2010-2014 |
Succeeded by - |
