Ravi Bhalla, the two-term mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, has announced his candidacy for the State Assembly in the 32nd Legislative District. Bhalla, a Democrat, made history in 2017 as the first Sikh to hold elected office in New Jersey and the first directly elected Sikh mayor in the United States. In November 2021, he won re-election in a rare uncontested race. Earlier this month, Bhalla confirmed he would not seek a third term as mayor.
In a statement to local media, Bhalla emphasized the importance of mayoral representation in Trenton to achieve impactful results. He pledged to prioritize reducing traffic fatalities, combating climate change, and addressing the state’s housing crisis. With the return of Donald Trump to power and Republican control in Congress, Bhalla described states and cities as “laboratories of democracy” essential for progress.
As Hoboken’s mayor, Bhalla championed the Vision Zero program, striving to eliminate pedestrian deaths. Under his leadership, the city achieved an eight-year streak without pedestrian fatalities and became a model for safer streets and transportation. Additionally, Hoboken earned national recognition for its climate initiatives, receiving an “A” rating from the nonprofit CDP for climate mitigation efforts. The city also maintained a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index for seven consecutive years.
Bhalla’s educational journey includes a B.A. in Political Psychology from UC Berkeley, a Master’s in Public Administration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics, and a Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School. He moved to Hoboken at 26 to begin his legal career. Bhalla and his wife Bindya reside in Hoboken with their two children, Arza Kaur and Shabegh Singh.
