JERSEY CITY, NJ – Former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey, notable as the nation’s first openly gay governor, declared his intention to run for the mayor’s office in Jersey City in 2025. His announcement came via an online video on Thursday.
McGreevey, a member of the Democratic Party, previously served as the mayor of Woodbridge Township before his gubernatorial election in 2002. His tenure as governor was marked by a public declaration of his sexuality and an admission of an extramarital affair with a male staffer, leading to his resignation in 2004.
In the announcement video, McGreevey, 66, reflected on his past, emphasizing the importance of responsibility and moving forward. Post-politics, he founded the New Jersey Reentry Corporation, aimed at assisting individuals reintegrating into society after incarceration, offering job training and counseling services.
McGreevey is the first to declare candidacy for the mayoral position in Jersey City. The current mayor, Steve Fulop, a three-term incumbent, has revealed plans to run for governor in 2025. Jersey City, situated across the Hudson River from New York City, is New Jersey’s second-largest city, with a population of approximately 284,000 residents.