Incumbent Newark Mayor Ras Baraka easily won reelection tonight to a third term, defeating rival Sheila Montague.

A win for Baraka was never in doubt.

First elected to the mayoralty in 2014, Baraka won all five wards in 2018 when he ran for a second term, an achievement he repeated this time.

There is considerable speculation, on the strength of his record, about a 2025 Baraka run for governor.

But still in question on Tuesday night was whether the mayor would again be in a position to have the upper hand on the city council.

The West Ward was heading for a runoff election between Dupre “DoItAll” Kelly (Baraka’s choice) and attorney Chigozie Onyema.