Ras J. Baraka

Ras Baraka

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Mayor of Newark

Mayor of Newark

Tenure

2014 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

11

Predecessor: Luis Quintana (Nonpartisan)

Prior offices:

Newark City Council South Ward

Years in office: 2010 - 2014

---

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 10, 2025

Next election

May 12, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

Howard University

Graduate

St. Peter's University

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official X

Official Instagram

Campaign website

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.

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.

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)
	Submit photo	Douglas R. Davis (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Tanisha Garner (Nonpartisan)
		Noble Milton (Nonpartisan)
		Sheila Montague (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Debra Salters (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Nasheedah S. Singleton (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Jhamar Youngblood (Nonpartisan)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

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
	Submit photo	Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party)	0.2	8,164

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,334,359
= 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

• 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

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 841,435
= 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.

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

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

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

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	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

See also: Mayoral election in Newark, New Jersey (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.

"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."

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."

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.

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:

• 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.

2014

See also: Newark, New Jersey mayoral election, 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.

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

Ras Baraka has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Ras Baraka asking him to fill out the survey. If you are Ras Baraka, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

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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)

Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

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. On May 19, 2025, the Justice Department dropped the charges against Baraka.

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.”

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 ..."

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.

Tested positive for coronavirus on December 23, 2021

See also: Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

Coronavirus pandemic
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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.

Events and activity following the death of George Floyd

See also: Events following the death of George Floyd and responses in select cities from May 29-31, 2020

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. 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.

On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officers arrested Floyd, a Black man, after receiving a call that he had made a purchase with a counterfeit $20 bill. Floyd died after Derek Chauvin, a White officer, arrived at the scene and pressed his knee onto Floyd's neck as Floyd laid face-down on the street in handcuffs. Both the Hennepin County Medical Examiner and an independent autopsy conducted by Floyd's family ruled Floyd's death as a homicide stemming from the incident. The medical examiner's report, prepared by Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson, said that it was "not a legal determination of culpability or intent, and should not be used to usurp the judicial process." On April 20, 2021, Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in relation to Floyd's death. Floyd's death was filmed and shared widely, leading to activity regarding racism, civil rights, and police use of force. The first events took place in Minneapolis-St. Paul on May 26. An event in Chicago organized by Chance the Rapper and Rev. Michael Pfleger took place the same day, making it the first major city outside of Minneapolis to host an event in response to Floyd's death.

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Luis Quintana	Mayor of Newark 2014-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	Newark City Council South Ward 2010-2014	Succeeded by -

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