Ravi Bhalla – From Civil Rights Advocate to City Mayor
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla has declared his victory in the 2025 general election for the New Jersey General Assembly, representing District 32, which includes Hoboken and parts of Jersey City.
Bhalla, who ran on a progressive, independent slate with Katie Brennan (housing policy expert), won with about 76% of the vote against Republican challengers Stephen Bishop and Kaushal Patel.
In the June Democratic primary, he narrowly defeated incumbent Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez by just 179 votes, securing his place on the general election ticket.
Bhalla emphasized his commitment to climate change, affordable housing, and infrastructure, citing his record as Hoboken Mayor.
He raised over $75,000 in his first Assembly fundraiser, signaling strong grassroots support.
In declaring victory, Bhalla celebrated the win as a blow to traditional party machinery. “We just showed the whole state that the people can beat the party bosses,” he said.
Brennan echoed his message, calling their campaign “a new era in Trenton.”
Ravinder “Ravi” Singh Bhalla is an American politician, civil rights attorney, and member-elect of the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 32nd Legislative District.
- He was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and raised in Woodland Park, in a Punjabi Sikh family.
- Bhalla holds a BSc in Political Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley; a Master’s in Public Administration/Public Policy from the London School of Economics; and a JD from Tulane University Law School.
- Before his Assembly win, he served on the Hoboken City Council (2009–2017) and was elected Mayor of Hoboken in 2017, becoming New Jersey’s first Sikh mayor.
- As mayor, Bhalla pushed for pedestrian safety (Vision Zero), climate resilience, and affordable housing.
- In 2025, he ran for the Assembly in District 32 (covering Hoboken and parts of Jersey City), winning the Democratic primary by a narrow margin and then the general election.
- His campaign platforms include affordable housing, climate action, education reform, infrastructure, and public safety.
- Bhalla has also faced scrutiny for traffic and parking violations, with records showing over 200 cases dating back to 2005.
- He lives in Hoboken with his wife, Navneet Patwalia, and their children.
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