2023 Hudson County Democratic Primaries

the 2023 Hudson County Commission Democratic Primary, a contest with two extremely narrow Hudson County Democratic Organization wins — Districts 4 & 5 — as well as two semi-competitive contests in Commission Districts 2 & 9 was an embarrassing for the county Organization due to strong progressive performances in Downtown Jersey City

Here, incumbents Yraida Aponte-Lipski (D-Jersey City) — who had a close fought race against Progressive Eleana Little in 2020 — and Anthony L. Romano (D-Hoboken) saw narrow wins in the low turnout contests due to the HCDO seeking to deny Progressives a seat by Packing downtown Jersey City — instead splitting the Gentrifying downtown between Four seats.

Here, Progressives — while not contesting every seat — did contest 6 seats on the county commission, the hudson executive's race, and LD-31's Senate seat and one of the assembly seats.

The Matchups were

County Executive: Engineer Eleana Little vs Tom DeGise Chief Of Staff Graig Guy
District 1: real estate agent TJ Senger vs Commissioner Kenny Kopacz (D-Bayonne)
District 2: NYU Grad Student Adrian Ghainda vs Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-Jersey City)
District 4: founder and executive director of JC Families Inc. Mamta Singh vs Commissioner Yraida Aponte-Lipski (D-Jersey City)
District 5: Tenants rights advocate Ron Bautista vs Commssioner Anthony L. Romano (D-Hoboken)
District 8: St. Peter's university Grad Stephanie Martinez vs North Bergen Parking Authority Executive Director Bob Baselice (D-North Bergen)
District 9: International Rescue Committee recruiter Alex Valdez vs Commissioner Albert Cifelli
LD-31 (Senate): Frank Gilmore's 2021 Council Campaign Manager Michael Griffin vs Assemblywoman Angela McKnight
LD-31 Assembly: Frank Gillmore Ally Shanelle Smith vs JC Dems Chair and HCDO vice Chair Barbara McCann Stamato plus Assemblyman William Sampson IV

Here, the HCDO did take the races seriously, with HCDO Executive candidate Craig Guy raising over $1 Million in his quest to keep the Hudson Executive's Office in the hands of the HCDO, winning over Eleana Little by a margin of 53%

Overall, with all the candidates criticizing the HCDO for corrupt machine politics, insufficient efforts to protect pedestrian safety, and a broad YIMBY plataform the HCDO enphasized their labor suport, endorsements from popular members, and afordability as issues to help them keep the offices.

However, above all, all the HCDO members benefited from having the county ballot line which — while it almost failed in Districts 4 & 5 — kept all seats in the hands of the HCDO.

On the state Senate Side of the 2023 Hudson County Primaries, following the retirement of Sandra Bolden Cunningham due to health issues, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop handpicked Assemblywoman Angela McKnight to become the State Senator for LD-31

Facing off against McKnight was Frank Gilmore 2021 Campaign manager— and 2017 Ward F Council Candidate — Michael Griffin.

Close ally of one of Fulop's two main council opponents — and having no chance of being picked by the HCDO due to Fulop's membership, and existing Detente with Brian Stack — Griffin went with the Progressive Democrats of Hudson County in his off-the-line challenge to McKnight

Here, Fulop also picked Jersey City Dems Chair — and sister of former Jersey City Mayor/onetime Hudson County Dems Boss — Gerald McCann, with Gilmore and Hudson Progressives backing Shanelle Smith for the open assembly Seat.

Campaigning on the same issues other Hudson Progressives campaigned on, and attacking Fulop's candidates for their relationships with Jersey City property developers and 'not understanding the communities — Griffin and McKnight, lost by a 3:1 Margin.

In their loss, Progressive Democrats did worst in North Hudson — losing Union City, North Bergen, West New York Gutenberg — by much worse than their countywide totals.

Here, they also underperformed in Bayone, East Newark, Weehawken, and the African American/Towney Precincts in Jersey City

Conversly, Progressives did best in Downtown Jersey City and Hoboken, performing strongly in the Jersey City Heights, Waterfront, Journal Square and the West side.

They also did incredibly well, compared to their overall margin in Kearny, and did better than their topline loss in Secaucus and Harrison NJ.

with regards to LD-31, the legislative Progressives won in the most gentrifying areas of the district; doing well in Kearny — performing similarly to the other Hudson County Progressives in the African-American parts of the district — and worst in the towny areas of Jersey City Ward A and Bayonne.

Sources

2025-present