Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey

Mayor of the City of Jersey City
Flag of Jersey City
since January 15, 2026
TypeMayor–council
StatusActive
SeatJersey City City Hall
Term lengthFour years
FormationFebruary 22, 1838 (1838-02-22)
First holderDudley S. Gregory
DeputyVivian Brady-Phillips
Marcos Vigil
Websitewww.jerseycitynj.gov

The mayor of the City of Jersey City is the head of the executive branch of the government of Jersey City, New Jersey. The mayor has the duty to enforce the municipal charter and local ordinances, prepare the annual budget, appoint deputy mayors and department heads, and approve or veto ordinances passed by the Municipal Council. The mayor is popularly elected in a nonpartisan general election. The office is held for a four-year term without term limits.

Since the city was chartered on February 22, 1838, forty-four individuals have held the office of mayor. Dudley S. Gregory was the city's inaugural mayor and served on three separate occasions for a total of five years. The current mayor is James Solomon who assumed office on January 15, 2026, after defeating former state governor Jim McGreevey, in the December 2025 runoff election.

Duties and powers

The City of Jersey City is organized as a mayor–council government under the Faulkner Act. This provides for a citywide elected mayor serving in an executive role and a Municipal Council serving in a legislative role. All of these offices are selected in a nonpartisan municipal election, and all terms are four years.[1]

Under state law, the mayor has the duty to enforce the charter and ordinances of the city and all applicable state laws; report annually to the council and the public on the state of the city; supervise and control all departments of the government; prepare and submit to the council annual operating and capital budgets; supervise all city property, institutions, and agencies; sign all contracts and municipal bonds requiring the approval of the city; negotiate all contracts; and serve as a member, either voting or ex officio, of all appointive bodies.[2]

The mayor has the power to appoint department heads with the Municipal Council's approval and can remove department heads, subject to a two-thirds disapproval by the council. The mayor may also approve or veto ordinances, subject to an override vote of two-thirds of the council, and appoint deputy mayors. The mayor is permitted to attend and participate in Municipal Council meetings without a vote, except in the case of a tie on the question to fill a council vacancy.[2]

Elections

See also: 2001 Jersey City mayoral election, 2004 Jersey City mayoral special election, 2005 Jersey City mayoral election, 2009 Jersey City mayoral election, 2013 Jersey City mayoral election, 2017 Jersey City mayoral election, 2021 Jersey City mayoral election, and 2025 Jersey City mayoral election

Under the original 1838 charter, mayors were elected citywide for a one-year term. In 1868, the New Jersey Legislature extended the term of office to two years.[3] In 1892, the legislature again changed the term to five years.[4] The city adopted a commission form of government under the Walsh Act in 1913.[5] This form provided for a five-member commission with both executive and legislative powers, elected for four years. The commissioners elected one of their members as mayor. Under this system, the mayor's only specific power was to appoint the school board; otherwise, he was first among equals. Jersey City adopted its current mayor-council form of government on May 7, 1961.[6]

Elections for mayor are held every four years on the date of the General Election, which is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.[7] If no candidate receives a majority of votes, a runoff election is held on the fourth Tuesday following the general election.[8] The term of office commences on January 15th.[9] The latest Jersey City mayoral election was held in 2025.[10]

Succession

If the mayor is absent, disabled, or otherwise prevented from performing their duties, the mayor may designate the business administrator or any other department head as acting mayor for up to 60 days.[2] In the event of a vacancy, the President of the Municipal Council becomes acting mayor, and the council has 30 days to name an interim mayor.[11] If no interim mayor is named, the Council President continues as acting mayor until a successor is elected or the council reorganizes and selects a new president.[11] Prior to 1971, there was no automatic succession law.[12] The office was left vacant for 47 days in 1963 when the city council failed to reach a decision on appointing an interim mayor.[13]

Mayors

No. Mayor[14] Took office Left office Tenure Party Election
1 Dudley S. Gregory
(1800–1874)
1st time
[15] 		April 1838 April 1840 2 years Whig TBA
2 Peter McMartin
(1805–?)
[16] 		April 1840 April 1841 1 year Unknown[a] TBA
3 Dudley S. Gregory
(1800–1874)
2nd time
[15] 		April 1841 April 1842 1 year Whig TBA
4 Thomas A. Alexander
(1800–1866)
[17] 		April 1842 April 1843 1 year Unknown[a] TBA
5 Peter Bentley Sr.
(1805–1875)
[18] 		April 1843 April 1844 1 year Democratic TBA
6 Phineas C. Dummer
(1797–1875)
[19] 		April 1844 April 20, 1848 4 years Whig TBA
7 Henry C. Taylor
(c. 1814–1889)
[20] 		April 21, 1848 April 18, 1850 1 year, 362 days Whig TBA
8 Robert Gilchrist
(c. 1790–1866)
[21] 		April 19, 1850 May 2, 1852 2 years, 13 days Whig TBA
9 David S. Manners
(1808–1884)
[22] 		May 3, 1852 May 3, 1857 5 years, 0 days Whig TBA
10 Samuel Wescott
(TBA–TBA)
[23] 		May 4, 1857 May 2, 1858 363 days Democratic TBA
11 Dudley S. Gregory
(1800–1874)
3rd time
[15] 		May 3, 1858 May 6, 1860 2 years, 3 days Republican TBA
12 Cornelius Van Vorst
(1822–1906)
[24] 		May 7, 1860 May 4, 1862 1 year, 362 days Democratic TBA
13 John B. Romar
(c. 1825–1892)
[25] 		May 5, 1861 May 1, 1864 2 years, 362 days Democratic TBA
14 Orestes Cleveland
(1829–1896)
1st time
[26] 		May 2, 1864 May 5, 1867 3 years, 3 days Democratic TBA
15 James Gopsill
(1823–1884)
[27] 		May 6, 1867 May 3, 1868 363 days Republican TBA
16 Charles H. O'Neill
(1800–1897)
1st time
[28] 		May 4, 1868 April 10, 1869[b] 341 days Democratic TBA
17 William Clarke
(TBA–TBA)
Interim
[29] 		April 11, 1869 May 1, 1870 1 year, 20 days Democratic App.
18 Charles H. O'Neill
(1800–1897)
2nd time
[28] 		May 2, 1870 May 3, 1874 4 years, 1 day Democratic TBA
19 Henry Traphagen
(1842–1918)
[30] 		May 4, 1874 April 30, 1876 1 year, 362 days Democratic TBA
20 Charles Siedler
(1839–1921)
[31] 		May 1, 1876 May 5, 1878 2 years, 4 days Republican TBA
21 Henry J. Hopper
(1830–1905)
[32] 		May 6, 1878 May 2, 1880 1 year, 362 days Democratic TBA
22 Isaac W. Taussig
(1850–1917)
[33][34][35][36] 		May 3, 1880 May 4, 1884 4 years, 1 day Democratic TBA
23 Gilbert Collins
(1846–1920)
[37] 		May 5, 1884 May 2, 1886 1 year, 362 days Republican TBA
24 Orestes Cleveland
(1829–1896)
2nd time
[26] 		May 3, 1886 May 1, 1892 5 years, 364 days Democratic TBA
25 Peter F. Wanser
(1849–1918)
[38] 		May 2, 1892 May 2, 1897 5 years, 0 days Republican TBA
26 Edward Hoos
(1850–1912)
[39] 		May 3, 1897 December 31, 1901 4 years, 242 days Democratic TBA
27 Mark M. Fagan
(1869–1955)
1st time
[40] 		January 1, 1902 December 31, 1907 5 years, 364 days Republican TBA
28 H. Otto Wittpenn
(1871–1931)
[41] 		January 1, 1908 June 16, 1913 5 years, 166 days Democratic TBA
29 Mark M. Fagan
(1869–1955)
2nd time
[40] 		June 17, 1913 May 14, 1917[c] 3 years, 331 days Republican TBA
30 Frank Hague
(1876–1956)
[42][43][44] 		May 15, 1917 June 17, 1947[d] 30 years, 33 days Democratic TBA
31 Frank H. Eggers
(1901–1954)
[45] 		June 17, 1947 May 16, 1949 1 year, 333 days Democratic App.
32 John V. Kenny
(1893–1975)
[46] 		July 1, 1949 December 15, 1953[e] 4 years, 167 days Democratic TBA
33 Bernard J. Berry
(1902–1963)
[48] 		December 15, 1953 June 30, 1957 3 years, 197 days Democratic TBA
34 Charles S. Witkowski
(1907–1993)
[49][50] 		July 1, 1957 June 30, 1961 3 years, 364 days Democratic TBA
35 Thomas Gangemi
(1903–1976) 		July 1, 1961 September 26, 1963[f] 2 years, 87 days Democratic TBA
Vacant September 26, 1963 November 13, 1963  
36 Thomas J. Whelan
(1922–2002)
[52] 		November 13, 1963 July 6, 1971[g] 7 years, 235 days Democratic TBA
37 Charles K. Krieger
(1914–1982)
Interim
[34][54] 		August 5, 1971 November 8, 1971 95 days Democratic App.
38 Paul T. Jordan
(born c. 1941)
[55][56][57] 		November 9, 1971 June 30, 1977 5 years, 233 days Democratic TBA
39 Thomas F. X. Smith
(1928–1996)
[58] 		July 1, 1977 May 12, 1981[h] 3 years, 315 days Democratic TBA
40 Gerald McCann
(born 1950)
1st time
[60][61] 		July 1, 1981 June 30, 1985 3 years, 364 days Democratic TBA
41 Anthony R. Cucci
(1922–2015)
[62] 		July 1, 1985 June 30, 1989 3 years, 364 days Democratic TBA
42 Gerald McCann
(born 1950)
2nd time
[60] 		July 1, 1989 February 13, 1992[i] 2 years, 227 days Democratic TBA
43 Marilyn Roman
(born 1936)
Acting
[64][65] 		February 14, 1992 June 30, 1992 137 days Democratic Council
President
acting as
mayor
44 Joseph Rakowski
(born TBA)
Acting 		July 1, 1992 November 10, 1992 132 days Democratic Council
President
acting as
mayor
45 Bret Schundler
(born 1959) 		November 11, 1992 June 30, 2001 8 years, 231 days Republican 1992 special
1993
1997
46 Glenn Cunningham
(1943–2004)
[66] 		July 1, 2001 May 25, 2004[†] 2 years, 329 days Democratic 2001
47 L. Harvey Smith
(born 1948)
Acting 		May 26, 2004 November 11, 2004 169 days Democratic Council
President
acting as
mayor
48 Jerramiah Healy
(born 1950)
[67] 		November 12, 2004 June 30, 2013 8 years, 230 days Democratic 2004 special
2005
2009
49 Steven Fulop
(born 1977)
[34] 		July 1, 2013 January 14, 2026 12 years, 197 days Democratic 2013
2017
2021
50 James Solomon
(born 1984) 		January 15, 2026 Incumbent 63 days Democratic 2025

Notes

^† Died in office
  1. ^ a b No source has been found to verify a party affiliation.
  2. ^ O'Neill resigned after one year, refusing to serve the new two-year term mandated by the legislature.[3]
  3. ^ Fagan stepped down as mayor and retired from politics.
  4. ^ Hague stepped down as mayor.
  5. ^ Kenny resigned shortly after winning re-election, citing poor health.[47]
  6. ^ Gangemi resigned from office when it was revealed that he was not a United States citizen and was ineligible to serve. Jersey City was without a mayor for 47 days while the city council failed to reach a consensus on a successor.[51][13]
  7. ^ Whelan was removed from office after being convicted of conspiracy and extortion.[53]
  8. ^ Smith resigned to run unsuccessfully for Governor of New Jersey.[59]
  9. ^ McCann was removed from office after being convicted of bank fraud.[63][61]

Higher offices held

The following is a list of higher public offices held by mayors, before or after their mayoral terms.

Mayor Mayoral term(s) Other offices held References
Dudley S. Gregory 1838–1840, 1841–1842, 1858–1860 U.S. Representative (1847–1849) [68]
Samuel Wescott 1857–1858 New Jersey State Senator (1860–1862) [69]
Orestes Cleveland 1864–1867, 1886–1892 U.S. Representative (1869–1871) [70]
Peter Farmer Wanser 1892–1897 New Jersey General Assemblyman (1882–1883) [71]
Glenn Cunningham 2001–2004 New Jersey State Senator (2004) [72]
L. Harvey Smith 2004 New Jersey State Senator (2003–2004)
New Jersey General Assemblyman (2008–2010) 		[73]
[74]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Faulkner Act (OMCL) Mayor–Council". Types And Forms Of New Jersey Municipal Government. New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c "Optional Municipal Charter Law N.J.S.A. 40:69A-1 et seq" (PDF). State of New Jersey. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Winfield, Charles (1874). History of the County of Hudson, New Jersey: from its earliest settlement to the present time. New York, NY: Kennard & Hay Stationery M'fg and Print. Co. p. 289.
  4. ^ "Some Legislative Jobs; The New Jersey Legislature at Work on Several of Them" (PDF). The New York Times. March 2, 1892. p. 3. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
  5. ^ "Commission Rule for Jersey City; Citizens Decide in Favor of New Government by Vote of 11,368 to 7,078" (PDF). The New York Times. April 16, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
  6. ^ Butler, Vincent (May 8, 1961). "Voters to Fill New Offices in Jersey City". Chicago Tribune. p. B19.
  7. ^ "Frequently Asked Voter Questions". www.njelections.org. State of New Jersey Department of State. Archived from the original on October 23, 2009. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
  8. ^ "New Jersey Statutes Annotated, 40:45-19". New Jersey State Legislature. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  9. ^ "New Jersey Statutes Annotated, 40:45-17". New Jersey State Legislature. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  10. ^ Rosario, Joshua; West, Teri (January 17, 2024). "Jersey City mayoral race 2025: So far it's a tale of two fund-raisers". NJ.com.
  11. ^ a b Sullivan, Joseph (March 9, 1992). "Clock Ticking on Search For Mayor in Jersey City". The New York Times. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
  12. ^ "New Jersey Statutes Annotated, 40A:9-131". New Jersey State Legislature. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  13. ^ a b Haff, Joseph (November 13, 1963). "Mayor is Named by Jersey City. Whelan Replaces Gangemi After 47-Day Delay". The New York Times. p. 1.
  14. ^ "Mayors And Selectmen". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  15. ^ a b c "Dudley S. Gregory". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  16. ^ "Peter McMartin". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  17. ^ "Thomas A. Alexander". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  18. ^ "Peter Bentley". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  19. ^ "Phineas C. Dummer". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  20. ^ "Henry C. Taylor". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  21. ^ "Robert Gilchrist". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  22. ^ "David S. Manners". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  23. ^ "Samuel Wescott". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  24. ^ "Cornelius Van Vorst". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  25. ^ "John R. Romar". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  26. ^ a b "Orestes Cleveland". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  27. ^ "James Gopsill". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  28. ^ a b "Charles H. O'Neill". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  29. ^ "William Clarke". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  30. ^ "Henry Traphagen". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  31. ^ "Charles Siedler". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  32. ^ "Henry J. Hopper". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  33. ^ "Isaac W. Taussig". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  34. ^ a b c "Fulop isn't Jersey City's first Jewish mayor – there was the infamous rock candy maker, and another". Hudson Reporter. May 19, 2013. Archived from the original on January 14, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  35. ^ "Mayor Taussig and his Partner Charged With Fraud". The New York Times. October 24, 1883.
  36. ^ "Ex-Mayor Taussig's Testimony". New York Times. December 13, 1884.
  37. ^ "Gilbert Collins". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  38. ^ "Peter F. Wanser". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  39. ^ "Edward Hoos". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  40. ^ a b "Mark M. Fagan". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  41. ^ "H. Otto Wittpenn". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  42. ^ "Frank Hague". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  43. ^ "When the Big Boy Goes..." Time. January 16, 1956. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
  44. ^ "Frank Hague Is Dead Here at 79. Long Boss of Jersey Democrats. Jersey City Mayor 32 Years Had National Influence". The New York Times. January 2, 1956. Retrieved August 21, 2007.
  45. ^ "Frank H. Eggers". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  46. ^ "John V. Kenny". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  47. ^ "Kenny Keeps His Word, Resigns as Mayor; Hague Foe, in Ill Health for a Year, Held Office Since '49 – Succeeded by Berry". The New York Times. December 16, 1953. p. 38.
  48. ^ "Bernard J. Berry". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  49. ^ "Charles S. Witkowski". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  50. ^ "C. S. Witkowski, 86, Jersey City Ex-Mayor", The New York Times, June 3, 1993.
  51. ^ "Mayor Gangemi Quits in Jersey. Resigns After U.S. Declares He is Not a Citizen". The New York Times. September 26, 1963. p. 1.
  52. ^ "Thomas Whelan". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  53. ^ Strumm, Charles (December 19, 1991). "Another Milepost on the Long Trail of Corruption in Hudson County". The New York Times.
  54. ^ "Jersey City's Interim Mayor, Charles Kiva Krieger". The New York Times. August 6, 1971. p. 38.
  55. ^ "Doctor Paul T. Jordan". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  56. ^ "200 Faces for the Future". TIME. July 15, 1974. Archived from the original on June 12, 2008.
  57. ^ "Jersey City Race Is Won By Jordan". The New York Times. May 9, 1973. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  58. ^ "Thomas F. X. Smith". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  59. ^ Goodnough, Abby (June 5, 1996). "Thomas Smith, 68, Ex-Jersey City Mayor, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
  60. ^ a b "Gerald McCann". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  61. ^ a b Evan Serpick (October 7, 2011). "That Felon Inspecting Trash? He Used to Be Mayor". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  62. ^ "Anthony R. Cucci". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  63. ^ Jonathan Miller (May 27, 2007). "You Throw Mud, He'll Throw a Mountain". The New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  64. ^ "Marilyn Roman". cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  65. ^ Sullivan, Joseph F. (March 13, 1992). "The Mayor of Jersey City Is 'Acting' No More". The New York Times. Retrieved August 10, 2008.
  66. ^ Smothers, Ronald (June 2, 2004). "Before 5,000, Mayor of Jersey City Is Eulogized for a 'Life Well Lived'". The New York Times. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
  67. ^ "Jerramiah T. Healy biography". www.cityofjerseycity.com. City of Jersey City. Archived from the original on December 5, 2007. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  68. ^ "Gregory, Dudley Sanford – Biographical Information". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  69. ^ Winfield 1874, p. 342
  70. ^ "Cleveland, Orestes – Biographical Information". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  71. ^ "Gen. Peter F. Wanser of Jersey City Dies. Former Mayor and Postmaster and Active in National Guard. Expires of Pneumonia at 68". New York Times. January 5, 1918.
  72. ^ Smothers, Ronald (June 10, 2004). "Bayonne Mayor Is Selected As an Interim State Senator". The New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  73. ^ New Jersey Legislative Digest for November 24, 2003. Accessed April 13, 2008. "Senator Joseph Charles, Jr., of the 31st Legislative District, has resigned effective August 18, 2003. L. Harvey Smith was sworn in as a member of the Senate for the 31st Legislative District."
  74. ^ "31st Dist: Democrat victories for Cunningham, Smith, Chiappone", The Star-Ledger, November 6, 2007. Accessed December 27, 2007.

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