McGreevey Takes Commanding Fundraising Lead in JC Mayoral Race
Former Governor James E. McGreevey holds a commanding financial lead in the race for Jersey City mayor, having raised nearly $2.2 million with close to $1 million in cash-on-hand ahead of the November municipal election. His campaign reported a $199,219 haul in the first quarter of 2025, while his joint fundraising committee with city council candidates—Team McGreevey—has raised nearly $948,000 overall and holds $944,138 in reserves. This substantial war chest positions McGreevey as the clear frontrunner in a crowded and competitive field.
Councilman James Solomon follows with $838,510 raised and $613,892 on hand, boosted by a strong $219,629 in first-quarter fundraising. His Team Solomon committee holds an additional $327,760. Hudson County Commissioner William O’Dea has accumulated $828,951 overall, with $628,177 in his individual account and $167,886 in a council slate account allied with his campaign. O'Dea's first-quarter total came in at $103,720, reflecting steady fundraising momentum.
Ali Mussab, a former Jersey City Board of Education president, has raised $354,853 to date, including $62,816 in Q1, and retains $190,791 in the bank. Team Mussab has brought in a modest $9,200 this year. City Council President Joyce Watterman has raised $281,045 overall and had $42,096 on hand after collecting $35,627 in the first quarter. The mayoral race is wide open following incumbent Steve Fulop’s decision not to seek re-election as he pursues the Democratic nomination for governor.
NJ Slashes Bonded Debt, but Hidden Budget Liabilities Remain
New Jersey’s bonded debt has fallen below $40 billion for the first time in over a decade, dropping to $39.7 billion by the end of the 2024 fiscal year. This marks the third consecutive year of decline under Gov. Phil Murphy, part of a broader effort to reduce the state’s reliance on borrowing after a pandemic-era spike in debt. Nearly $4 billion in bonded debt has been retired early using a special debt-relief reserve fund created in 2021, saving taxpayers over $1 billion in interest payments. The state paid down $4.7 billion in existing debt while issuing just $2 billion in new bonds during the last fiscal year.
Despite progress on bonded debt, the state’s overall financial obligations remain massive. Nonbonded liabilities—particularly health benefits for retired public workers—rose by nearly $2 billion, offsetting gains from a $300 million drop in pension liabilities. As a result, the state's total long-term obligations, including bonded and nonbonded debt, remained steady at $201 billion. Murphy has made public-worker pension funding a consistent priority since taking office, with the total debt burden down from $240 billion in 2018.
Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio credited the improvement to a multifaceted strategy of reducing borrowing and leveraging the debt reserve fund. However, the future of that reserve is uncertain. Murphy has proposed transferring $250 million from the fund to help balance the 2026 state budget, following a similar $600 million transfer last year. If lawmakers approve the move, it would mark a second consecutive year of redirecting debt-relief funds toward general expenses, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of New Jersey’s debt-reduction efforts.
RCSG’s Albanese and Duffy Recognized as NJ Business Leaders
Join us in congratulating River Crossing Strategy Group’s Stephanie Albanese and Janellen Duffy on their recognition in ROI-NJ’s 2025 Women in Business List.
Stephanie Albanese is the Chair of River Crossing Strategy Group's Healthcare Practice and Non-Profit Practice Groups and was recognized for the significant political, governmental, and legislative work she has done on both the federal level and the New Jersey legislature. Steph is a former Legislative Assistant to Congressman Frank Pallone and served as Legislative Director to State Senator Joseph F. Vitale, Chair of the Senate Health Committee.
Janellen Duffy brings over 20 years of experience across government, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors. She leads the firm’s education practice, co-chairs the nonprofit practice, and serves as vice-chair of the technology practice. Her career includes roles with the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, HHS, and as Education Policy Advisor to Governor Corzine. She also held leadership roles at the Newark Charter School Fund and was the founding Executive Director of JerseyCAN.
Mikie Sherrill Unveils Online Safety Agenda
Mikie Sherrill’s New Jersey Online Safety Agenda addresses the growing risks posed by unregulated technology, social media, and artificial intelligence. She highlights how addictive algorithms and manipulative design features are fueling youth mental health issues, deepening political divides, and enabling the spread of misinformation. To combat this, Sherrill proposes policies such as banning targeted ads for children, requiring social media warning labels, and establishing a state research center focused on social media addiction. She also supports banning cell phones during class and introducing a curriculum to teach ethical tech use in schools.
To fight extremism and protect democracy, Sherrill calls for holding platforms accountable for algorithms that promote hate and misinformation. She advocates for algorithm transparency, investments in local journalism, and stronger protections against political manipulation through AI-generated content. Sherrill also emphasizes the importance of combating online scams by prosecuting platforms that enable fraud, enforcing advertiser verification, and empowering residents with greater control over their personal data.
On artificial intelligence, Sherrill pushes for safeguards to ensure AI benefits society without undermining privacy, truth, or jobs. Her proposals include requiring detection and labeling of AI-generated content, expanding laws against AI-driven image abuse, mandating transparency in political AI ads, and ensuring human oversight in healthcare decisions. She also pledges to support creatives whose work is at risk of being exploited by AI systems. Overall, her agenda seeks to make New Jersey a national leader in ethical and responsible tech governance.
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