Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has recently been called a reasonable radical and a practical progressive. Still, for the Black community in general, and specifically in Newark, N.J., Baraka has always been ours. The son of the iconic poet and activist Amiri Baraka, he was educated in Newark before venturing to Howard University. He has served as Mayor of New Jersey’s biggest city for over a decade and now has his eyes set on the biggest office in the state: Governor. Mayor Baraka spoke exclusively with rolling out about why the time to run for governor is now, appealing to the state’s Democratic base, and combating the discriminatory practices of the presidential administration.
“Now is the opportunity, particularly in the climate that we’re in; what’s happening nationally makes it clear to me that (running for governor) is what needs to happen,” he said.
Baraka said voters need a candidate who will stand on Democratic values and push back against the climate in the country that is attacking everything that we hold near and dear in this country, from DEI to Medicaid and social security.
Baraka touts record as mayor
Baraka shared why New Jerseyans should vote for him…