Taxing Long Island
News12 New York
Download the App
Where to Watch
Local
Crime
Weather
beWell
The East End
Crime Files
Stony Brook Medicine

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka lays out ‘vision for NJ’ after announcing gubernatorial run

Ras Baraka confirmed his words and marked his stamp of approval as he joined the gubernatorial race.

Ali Reid

Feb 20, 2024, 10:21 PM

Updated

Share:

More Stories

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka laid out his "vision for New Jersey" on Tuesday at Rowan University, one day after officially announcing his run for governor.

The Democratic mayor confirmed his words and marked his stamp of approval as he joined the gubernatorial race.

"I was born for these storms, and I was born for this time and so as this race goes on, New Jersey is never going to be the same,” Baraka said. “You mark my words; the state will never be the same because Ras Baraka has announced that he’s running for governor!"

Baraka spoke Tuesday in front of college students and local members of the South Jersey community about his vision for the state.

RELATED: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announces run for NJ governor

"I am excited about having the opportunity to talk about things on a larger scale, and to raise issues that I don’t think would be raised if I wasn’t in the campaign," Baraka said.

The mayor touched on topics like affordable housing, transportation and other political ambitions. Ultimately, he’s vying to be New Jersey’s first Black governor.

"We want to make sure that we left our mark on New Jersey politics, and that people understand the real issues that people are dealing with every single day,” he said.

Baraka is now the third declared candidate for the Democratic nomination, joining Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney.

The state's next gubernatorial election is in November 2025.

More Stories

More From News12

App StoreGoogle Play Store

info

Newsletter

Send Photos/Videos

Contact

About Us

News Team

News 12 New York

follow us

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

more resources

Optimum Corporate

Optimum Service

Advertise on News 12

Careers

Content Removal Policy

© 2026 N12N, LLC

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices