Mayoral election in Newark, New Jersey (2018)
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 16
- Early voting: Sept. 22 - Nov. 5
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: No
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: No
- Poll times: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
2022 →
← 2014
|
| 2018 Newark elections |
|---|
 |
| Election dates |
| Filing deadline: March 5, 2018 |
| General election: May 8, 2018 Runoff election: June 12, 2018 |
| Election stats |
| Offices up: Mayor, City council |
| Total seats up: 10 (click here for other city elections) |
| Election type: Nonpartisan |
| Other municipal elections |
| U.S. municipal elections, 2018 |
The city of Newark, New Jersey, held a general election for mayor on May 8, 2018. Incumbent Ras J. Baraka secured a second term.
Baraka faced a former supporter, Newark City Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins.
Chaneyfield Jenkins backed Baraka's 2014 mayoral bid, running as part of his slate of candidates. She later broke with the mayor.[1]
"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."[2]
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."[3]
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.[4][5][6]
Election results
| Newark Mayor, General Election, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Ras J. 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 | ||
Candidates
Ras J. Baraka
Baraka ran as the incumbent in this race, having been first elected in 2014. 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.[7] Baraka obtained a B.A. in political science from Howard University and an M.A. in education from St. Peters University.
When filing for re-election, Baraka said the growth of the city's downtown area was a reason voters should elect him for another four years. "There is $3 billion dollars of development projects in this city right now. We are among the final 20 picks on Amazon's list," he said. "Newark is clearly moving forward."[8]
Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins[9]
Heading into the 2018 election, Jenkins served as the Newark Central Ward councilwoman. She first served on the city council from 1995 to 2006 and was again elected in 2014.
Jenkins said of her mayoral run, "I've never seen myself as just a Central Ward councilwoman. Every vote I cast impacts every ward of the city. I'll putting it all out there on the table. It's about the city, and we can do better," she said ."You have to be willing to challenge the system, especially when you know it's broken."[10]
Timeline
Swipe on the box below or click "OK" and the arrow to the right to view a timeline of Newark's 2018 mayoral race.
Campaign finance
- Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins reported $192,072.92 in contributions and $172,924.71 in expenditures to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, leaving her campaign with $19,148.21 cash on hand as of January 15, 2018.[11] She did not make any new campaign finance reports when the April deadline passed.
- Ras J. Baraka reported $763,528.56 in contributions and $709,551.76 in expenditures to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, leaving his campaign with $53,976.80 cash on hand as of April 13, 2018.[11]
Endorsements
Ballotpedia tracks endorsements by organizations and elected officials. To notify us of other endorsements, please email us.
| Mayoral election endorsements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement | Baraka | Chaneyfield Jenkins | |
| Federal officials | |||
| Sen. Bob Menendez (D)[12] | ✔ | ||
| State officials | |||
| Phil Murphy, governor of New Jersey | ✔ | ||
| Richard Codey, New Jersey state senator | ✔ | ||
| Ron Rice, New Jersey state senator | ✔ | ||
| Ralph Caputo, New Jersey state assemblyman | ✔ | ||
| Local figures | |||
| Joe DiVincenzo, Essex County executive | ✔ | ||
| Augusto Amador, Newark city councilman | ✔ | ||
| Mildred Crump, Newark city councilwoman | ✔ | ||
| Carlos Gonzalez, Newark city councilman | ✔ | ||
| John S. James, Newark city councilman | ✔ | ||
| Joseph McCallum Jr., Newark city councilman | ✔ | ||
| Eddie Osborne, Newark city councilman | ✔ | ||
| Luis Quintana, Newark city councilman | ✔ | ||
| Anibal Ramos Jr., Newark city councilman | ✔ | ||
| Organizations | |||
| Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey[13] | ✔ | ||
| National Dominican American Council[13] | ✔ | ||
Debates and forums
- Baraka and Chaneyfield Jenkins participated in a debate held on April 19, 2018.[14]
Municipal partisanship
Once mayors elected in 2018 assumed office, Democrats held mayorships in 61 of the 100 largest cities in the country. Out of the twenty-five mayoral elections that were held in 2018 in the 100 largest cities, two party changes occurred. In the election in Lexington, Kentucky, Republican Linda Gorton won the seat, replacing former Democratic Mayor Jim Gray. In Virginia Beach, Virginia, Republican Bob Dyer won the seat, replacing former independent Mayor Louis Jones. Click here to learn more.
About the city
- See also: Newark, New Jersey
Newark is a city in Essex County, New Jersey. As of 2010, its population was 277,140.
City government
- See also: Mayor-council government
Since 1953, the city of Newark has utilized a mayor-council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[15]
Demographics
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
| Demographic Data for Newark, New Jersey | ||
|---|---|---|
| Newark | New Jersey | |
| Population | 277,140 | 8,791,894 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 24 | 7,354 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 28.6% | 67.8% |
| Black/African American | 50.1% | 13.5% |
| Asian | 1.9% | 9.5% |
| Native American | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% |
| Two or more | 2.4% | 2.7% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 36.3% | 20.2% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 75.3% | 89.8% |
| College graduation rate | 15.3% | 39.7% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $35,199 | $82,545 |
| Persons below poverty level | 27.4% | 10% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2010). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2014-2019). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
City history
This section provides an overview of mayoral and city council elections in Newark from 2000 to 2016.
Historical elections
Mayoral elections, 2010-2014
This chart shows the results of the mayoral elections in Newark in 2010 and 2014. The mayor is up for election every four years.
| Election results (Mayor), Newark 2010-2014 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2014[16] | Ras J. Baraka | 54.06% | Shavar D. Jeffries | 45.70% | 8.36% |
| 2010[17] | Cory Booker | 59.14% | Clifford Minor | 35.28% | 23.86% |
City council elections, 2010-2014
This chart shows the vote totals for candidates elected to the city council in at-large city council races in Newark from 2010 to 2014. All four at-large seats on the city council are up for election every four years.
| Election results (City council at-large), Newark 2010-2014 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First election winner | First election winner votes (%) | Second election winner | Second election winner votes (%) | Third election winner | Third election winner votes (%) | Fourth election winner | Fourth election winner votes (%) | |
| 2014[16] | Mildred C. Crump | 16.20% | Luis Quintana | 14.34% | Carlos M. Gonzalez | 10.44% | Eddie Osborne | 10.39% | |
| 2010[18] | Donald Payne, Jr. | 19.01% | Mildred C. Crump | 17.67% | Luis Quintana | 16.38% | Carlos M. Gonzalez | 14.52% | |
This chart shows the results of the ward city council elections in Newark in 2010 and 2014. All five ward seats on the city council are up for election every four years.
| Election results (City council wards), Newark 2010-2014 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Ward | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2014[16] | North | Anibal Ramos, Jr. | 71.91% | Luis M. Lopez | 24.82% | 47.09% |
| 2014[16] | South | John S. James | 71.76% | Brian K. Logan | 13.09% | 58.67% |
| 2014[16] | East | Augusto Amador | 53.51% | Jonathan Seabra | 20.77% | 32.74% |
| 2014 (runoff)[19] | West | Joseph A. McCallum, Jr. | 67.49% | Patricia J. Bradford | 32.32% | 35.17% |
| 2014 (runoff)[19] | Central | Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins | 62.29% | Darrin S. Sharif | 37.49% | 24.80% |
| 2010[20] | North | Anibal Ramos, Jr. | 90.34% | Pablo Olivera | 9.66% | 80.68% |
| 2010[21] | South | Ras J. Baraka | 56.01% | Oscar James II | 37.39% | 18.62% |
| 2010[22] | East | Augusto Amador | 64.97% | Peter Pantoliano | 35.03% | 29.94% |
| 2010[23] | West | Ronald C. Rice | 72.21% | Maryam Bey | 22.76% | 49.45% |
| 2010 (runoff)[24] | Central | Darrin S. Sharif | 50.12% | Charles Bell | 49.88% | 0.24% |
City overview
Partisan control
Municipal elections in Newark are officially nonpartisan, but many city officeholders and candidates are affiliated with a political party. This section details the partisan control of the mayor's seat and the city council heading into the 2018 elections, as determined by Ballotpedia. One or more of the following sources were used to identify each officeholder's partisan affiliation: (1) direct communication from the officeholder, (2) current or previous candidacy for partisan office, or (3) identification of partisan affiliation by multiple media outlets.
- A Democrat held the mayor's seat.
- Democrats held all nine seats on the city council.
2018 elections
- See also: New Jersey elections, 2018
Newark held elections for the following positions in 2018:
Demographics
| Demographic data for New Jersey | ||
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 8,935,421 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 7,354 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 68.3% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 13.5% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 9% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.5% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 19% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 88.6% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 36.8% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $72,093 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 12.7% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in New Jersey. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
As of July 2016, Newark had a population of approximately 281,764 people, and it was the largest city by population in New Jersey.[25] The chart on the right shows demographic information for New Jersey from 2010 to 2015.
The graphs below show levels of educational attainment in Newark and racial demographics in New Jersey compared to the rest of the country.
Pivot Counties
Two of 21 New Jersey counties—9.52 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
Essex County, in which Newark is located, is not a Pivot County.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Gloucester County, New Jersey | 0.48% | 10.77% | 12.16% | ||||
| Salem County, New Jersey | 15.00% | 1.31% | 3.92% | ||||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Newark New Jersey election. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| Newark, New Jersey | New Jersey | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Essex County Politics, "Baraka pressures Quintana, rolls out council slate in Newark mayoral race," March 8, 2014
- ↑ TAP into Newark, "Chaneyfield Jenkins launches bid to unseat Baraka," January 9, 2018
- ↑ Ras J. Baraka, "Mayor Ras Baraka's re-election campaign response to new challenger entering 2018 mayoral race," January 9, 2018
- ↑ TAP into Newark, "Baraka, Chaneyfield Jenkins battle over inclusionary zoning at council meeting," August 2, 2017
- ↑ Anibal Ramos Jr., "Newark City Council passes resolution opposing state legislation limiting charter school growth," May 12, 2015
- ↑ The Newark Report, "The plight of students in Newark's public school system," December 30, 2015
- ↑ Ras J. Baraka, "About," accessed October 20, 2014
- ↑ Tap into Newark, "Baraka, with Booker, files petitions in Newark for reelection bid," February 9, 2018
- ↑ ROI-NJ News, "Report: Councilwoman to challenge Newark's Baraka," January 9, 2018
- ↑ Tap into Newark, "Chaneyfield Jenkins launches bid to unseat Baraka," January 9, 2018
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, "Candidate and Election Related Committee Listing," accessed April 23, 2018
- ↑ WBGO, "Another High Profile Dem Endorses Baraka Re-election Bid," April 6, 2018
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Insider NJ, "Chaneyfield Jenkins Slate Receives Endorsements From LLA-PAC And NDAC," April 24, 2018
- ↑ TAP into Newark, "Baraka, Chaneyfield Jenkins spar at Newark mayoral debate," April 20, 2018
- ↑ City of Newark, "Government," accessed August 26, 2014
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Essex County Clerk's Office, "2014 non-partisan municipal election," April 18, 2016
- ↑ Newark, New Jersey, "Mayor," accessed January 9, 2018
- ↑ Newark, New Jersey, "At large," accessed January 9, 2018
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Essex County Clerk's Office, "2014 Newark run-off election," April 18, 2016
- ↑ Newark, New Jersey, "North Ward," accessed January 8, 2018
- ↑ Newark, New Jersey, "South Ward," accessed January 8, 2018
- ↑ Newark, New Jersey, "East Ward," accessed January 8, 2018
- ↑ Newark, New Jersey, "West Ward," accessed January 8, 2018
- ↑ Newark, New Jersey, "Central Ward run off," accessed January 8, 2018
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, "QuickFacts Newark, New Jersey," accessed January 9, 2018
 |
State of New Jersey Trenton (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2024 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |