Many thought Newark Mayor Ras Baraka would run for governor. Few thought he would announce it — apparently — in the middle of a speech Monday at an event in Trenton.
Baraka, the highly successful leader of Newark who has shown all of the qualities needed to be a chief executive, apparently did just that.
“You, too, can stand here at the Trenton War Memorial and say, ‘I want to be the governor of New Jersey,’” a video of the event shows.
Baraka would be the third declared candidate for the Democratic nomination, joining Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney.
U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill also are expected to enter the race — but most feel it would be awkward for them to announce before their reelection run for Congress this November.
New Jersey’s next gubernatorial election is in November 2025.
