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Jim McGreevey: Difference between revisions
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< | McGreevey represented [[New Jersey General Assembly District 19|District 19]] in the [[New Jersey General Assembly]] from 1990 to 1992 and [[New Jersey State Senate District 19|District 19]] in the [[New Jersey State Senate|New Jersey Senate]] from 1994 to 1998. During his tenure in the [[New Jersey State Legislature|New Jersey Legislature]], McGreevey served simultaneously as mayor of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. He was first elected mayor in 1991 and was re-elected in 1995 and 1999. | ||
In 1997, McGreevey ran for [[Governor of New Jersey|governor of New Jersey]]. In the general election, incumbent Gov. Christine Todd Whitman (R) defeated McGreevey 47% to 46%. McGreevey ran for governor again in 2001. In the general election, McGreevey defeated Bret Schundler (R) 56% to 42%. | |||
On Aug. 12, 2004, McGreevey announced during a press conference that he would resign from office after his former homeland security adviser, Golan Cipel, said he would sue McGreevey for sexual harassment.<ref name="NBC">[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5869378 ''NBC News'', "Lawyer: McGreevey’s accuser will not sue," August 30, 2004]</ref> McGreevey, who was married at the time, later said he had a consensual extramarital affair with Cipel.<ref name="CNN">[https://www.cnn.com/politics/jim-mcgreevey-fast-facts ''CNN'', "Jim McGreevey Fast Facts," July 24, 2025]</ref> [[#Resignation (2004)|Click here]] for more information about McGreevey’s resignation. | |||
==Biography== | |||
James McGreevey was born in 1957 in [[Jersey City, New Jersey]], and grew up in [[Carteret, New Jersey]]. He received a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in 1978, a J.D. from Georgetown University in 1981, a master’s degree from Harvard University in 1982, and a master's degree from The General Theological Seminary in 2010.<ref name="LinkedIn">[https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-mcgreevey-7688424/ ''LinkedIn'', "Jim McGreevey," accessedNovember 26, 2025]</ref> McGreevey's professional experience included working as an assistant prosecutor in [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]], the executive director of the New Jersey State Parole Board, and the director of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation.<ref name="CNN">[https://www.cnn.com/politics/jim-mcgreevey-fast-facts ''CNN'', "Jim McGreevey Fast Facts," July 24, 2025]</ref><ref name="LinkedIn">[https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-mcgreevey-7688424/ ''LinkedIn'', "Jim McGreevey," accessedNovember 26, 2025]</ref> | |||
==2025 battleground election== | ==2025 battleground election== | ||
::''See also: [[Mayoral election in Jersey City, New Jersey (2025)]]'' | ::''See also: [[Mayoral election in Jersey City, New Jersey (2025)]]'' | ||
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===2025=== | ===2025=== | ||
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==[[Noteworthy events]]== | |||
===Resignation (2004)=== | |||
On Aug. 12, 2004, New Jersey Gov. [[James McGreevey]] (D) announced that he would resign, effective Nov. 15, 2004.<ref name="CNN">[https://www.cnn.com/politics/jim-mcgreevey-fast-facts ''CNN'', "Jim McGreevey Fast Facts," July 24, 2025]</ref> New Jersey Senate President [[Richard Codey]] (D) served the remainder of McGreevey’s term, which ended on Jan. 17, 2006. McGreevey was the 12th governor of New Jersey to resign from office. [[United States gubernatorial resignations#New Jersey|Click here]] for more information about the history of gubernatorial resignations in New Jersey. | |||
In January 2002, McGreevey appointed Golan Cipel to serve as his homeland security advisor.<ref name="NYT">[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/15/nyregion/an-adviser-to-mcgreevey-resigns.html ''The New York Times'', "An Adviser to McGreevey Resigns," August 15, 2002]</ref> According to ''The New York Times''’ David Kocieniewski, Cipel “stepped down from the domestic security job in March [2002], after Republicans pointed out that his status as an Israeli citizen prevented him from obtaining a security clearance from the F.B.I., and he was reassigned to Mr. McGreevey's office as an adviser on government operations.”<ref name="NYT">[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/15/nyregion/an-adviser-to-mcgreevey-resigns.html ''The New York Times'', "An Adviser to McGreevey Resigns," August 15, 2002]</ref> Cipel resigned from McGreevey’s administration in August 2002.<ref name="NYT">[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/15/nyregion/an-adviser-to-mcgreevey-resigns.html ''The New York Times'', "An Adviser to McGreevey Resigns," August 15, 2002]</ref> | |||
McGreevey held a press conference on Aug. 12, 2004, after Cipel's lawyer notified McGreevey’s attorneys that he intended to file a sexual harassment lawsuit against McGreevey.<ref name="NBC">[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5869378 ''NBC News'', "Lawyer: McGreevey’s accuser will not sue," August 30, 2004]</ref> During the press conference, McGreevey stated that he had a consensual extramarital affair with a man whom his aides later identified as Cipel.<ref name="NBC">[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5869378 ''NBC News'', "Lawyer: McGreevey’s accuser will not sue," August 30, 2004]</ref> McGreevey also announced that he would resign from office effective Nov. 15. | |||
On Aug. 12, Cipel released a statement accusing McGreevey of sexual harassment.<ref name="CNN">[https://www.cnn.com/politics/jim-mcgreevey-fast-facts ''CNN'', "Jim McGreevey Fast Facts," July 24, 2025]</ref> On Aug. 30, Cipel’s attorneys announced that he would not sue McGreevey.<ref name="NBC">[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5869378 ''NBC News'', "Lawyer: McGreevey’s accuser will not sue," August 30, 2004]</ref> | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 16:29, 26 November 2025
Jim McGreevey was the Governor of New Jersey. He assumed office on January 15, 2002. He left office on November 15, 2004.
McGreevey ran for election for Mayor of Jersey City in New Jersey. He lost in the general runoff election on December 2, 2025.
McGreevey represented District 19 in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1990 to 1992 and District 19 in the New Jersey Senate from 1994 to 1998. During his tenure in the New Jersey Legislature, McGreevey served simultaneously as mayor of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. He was first elected mayor in 1991 and was re-elected in 1995 and 1999.
In 1997, McGreevey ran for governor of New Jersey. In the general election, incumbent Gov. Christine Todd Whitman (R) defeated McGreevey 47% to 46%. McGreevey ran for governor again in 2001. In the general election, McGreevey defeated Bret Schundler (R) 56% to 42%.
On Aug. 12, 2004, McGreevey announced during a press conference that he would resign from office after his former homeland security adviser, Golan Cipel, said he would sue McGreevey for sexual harassment.[1] McGreevey, who was married at the time, later said he had a consensual extramarital affair with Cipel.[2] Click here for more information about McGreevey’s resignation.
Biography
James McGreevey was born in 1957 in Jersey City, New Jersey, and grew up in Carteret, New Jersey. He received a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in 1978, a J.D. from Georgetown University in 1981, a master’s degree from Harvard University in 1982, and a master's degree from The General Theological Seminary in 2010.[3] McGreevey's professional experience included working as an assistant prosecutor in Middlesex County, New Jersey, the executive director of the New Jersey State Parole Board, and the director of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation.[2][3]
2025 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the Dec. 2 runoff election as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election here.
James Solomon defeated Jim McGreevey in the nonpartisan runoff general election for mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey on Dec 2, 2025. Incumbent Mayor Steven Fulop chose to run in the Democratic primary for governor of New Jersey rather than seek a fourth term. Click here for detailed results.
McGreevey and Solomon advanced to the runoff after neither received 51% of the vote in the general election on Nov. 4, 2025.[4] In the general election, Solomon received 29% of the vote, and McGreevey received 25% in a field of seven candidates. The last time that a Jersey City mayoral election ended in a runoff was in 2001.[5]
While Jersey City municipal elections are officially nonpartisan, both McGreevey and Solomon identified as Democrats. Fulop also identified as a Democrat, meaning Solomon's victory kept the office under Democratic control.
According to CBS News, the race "focused on a slew of issues, including housing affordability, police and public safety reform and accountability, improving schools, fixing quality of life concerns such as traffic congestion and increasing government transparency."[6]
McGreevey was, at the time of the election, the director of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation.[7] He previously served as governor of New Jersey from 2002 to 2004 and mayor of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, from 1992 to 2002. McGreevey also served in the New Jersey Senate from 1994 to 1998 and the New Jersey General Assembly from 1990 to 1992.
Heading into the election, McGreevey said, “I’m not running to build a political career, I’m running to fix the city I love. For four years, I’ll focus on the fundamentals: cleaner streets, safer neighborhoods, better schools, stronger senior services, and a city government that actually works for working families.”[8]
Solomon was first elected to represent Ward E on the Jersey City Council in 2017. Previously, Solomon was an adjunct professor at multiple colleges in New Jersey and as an aide to the former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.[9]
Heading into the election, Solomon said, “Jersey City needs change. It needs an affordable Jersey City and it’s not going to become affordable if we go back to the same corrupt machine playbook that has failed residents of Jersey City year after year after year.”[10]
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), Jersey City Council President Joyce Watterman, and Hudson County Executive Craig Guy (D) endorsed McGreevey.[11][12] U.S. Sen. Andrew Kim (D), Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and Hudson County Commissioner William O’Dea (D) endorsed Solomon.[12]
Elections
2025
See also: Mayoral election in Jersey City, New Jersey (2025)
General runoff election
General runoff election for Mayor of Jersey City
James Solomon defeated Jim McGreevey in the general runoff election for Mayor of Jersey City on December 2, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | James Solomon (Nonpartisan) | 67.9 | 14,402 |
 | Jim McGreevey (Nonpartisan) | 32.1 | 6,821 | |
| Total votes: 21,223 | |||
 = 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. | ||||
General election
General election for Mayor of Jersey City
The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Jersey City on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James Solomon (Nonpartisan) | 29.1 | 17,200 |
| ✔ | | Jim McGreevey (Nonpartisan) | 25.4 | 15,042 |
| William O'Dea (Nonpartisan) | 21.6 | 12,750 | ||
 | Mussab Ali (Nonpartisan) | 18.3 | 10,843 | |
 | Joyce Watterman (Nonpartisan) | 3.9 | 2,282 | |
 | Christina Freeman (Nonpartisan) | 1.5 | 865 | |
| Kalki Jayne-Rose (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 151 | ||
| Total votes: 59,133 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for McGreevey in this election.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jim McGreevey did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
Noteworthy events
Resignation (2004)
On Aug. 12, 2004, New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey (D) announced that he would resign, effective Nov. 15, 2004.[2] New Jersey Senate President Richard Codey (D) served the remainder of McGreevey’s term, which ended on Jan. 17, 2006. McGreevey was the 12th governor of New Jersey to resign from office. Click here for more information about the history of gubernatorial resignations in New Jersey.
In January 2002, McGreevey appointed Golan Cipel to serve as his homeland security advisor.[13] According to The New York Times’ David Kocieniewski, Cipel “stepped down from the domestic security job in March [2002], after Republicans pointed out that his status as an Israeli citizen prevented him from obtaining a security clearance from the F.B.I., and he was reassigned to Mr. McGreevey's office as an adviser on government operations.”[13] Cipel resigned from McGreevey’s administration in August 2002.[13]
McGreevey held a press conference on Aug. 12, 2004, after Cipel's lawyer notified McGreevey’s attorneys that he intended to file a sexual harassment lawsuit against McGreevey.[1] During the press conference, McGreevey stated that he had a consensual extramarital affair with a man whom his aides later identified as Cipel.[1] McGreevey also announced that he would resign from office effective Nov. 15.
On Aug. 12, Cipel released a statement accusing McGreevey of sexual harassment.[2] On Aug. 30, Cipel’s attorneys announced that he would not sue McGreevey.[1]
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 NBC News, "Lawyer: McGreevey’s accuser will not sue," August 30, 2004
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 CNN, "Jim McGreevey Fast Facts," July 24, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 LinkedIn, "Jim McGreevey," accessedNovember 26, 2025
- ↑ PIX11, "What to know about the upcoming mayor election in Jersey City," November 19, 2025
- ↑ NJ.com, "In Jersey City, runoff elections rarely change initial outcome," November 6, 2015
- ↑ CBS News, "Former Gov. Jim McGreevey, James Solomon advance to runoff in race for Jersey City mayor," November 5, 2025
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Jim McGreevey," accessed November 20, 2025
- ↑ New Jersey Globe, "McGreevey Says He’ll Serve Just One Term, Focus On Delivering Results, Not Politics And Fundraising," November 13, 2025
- ↑ LinkedIn, "James Solomon," accessed November 20, 2025
- ↑ PIX11, "Jersey City mayor’s race: Get to know James Solomon," November 18, 2025
- ↑ James McGreevey Campaign Website 2025, "Endorsements," accessed November 20, 2025
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 NJ, "Who should lead Jersey City? Big political names pick sides in McGreevey-Solomon showdown," November 11, 2025
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 The New York Times, "An Adviser to McGreevey Resigns," August 15, 2002
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