Ravi Bhalla’s congressional campaign last June fell short. He lost the primary to incumbent Robert Menendez Jr. by about 6,000 votes.

But in his hometown of Hoboken and nearby Jersey City, Bhalla did better.

Specifically, he got more than 60 percent of the vote in what is the 32rd Legislative District. That now seems relevant.

Bhalla this week first announced he would not seek re-election as mayor of Hoboken. Now, he says he’s running for the state Assembly in that very same LD-32.

He said this in a statement:

“As a two-term mayor, I believe Trenton needs more mayors who get things done. In the State Assembly, I will fight to ensure that New Jersey leads the way on curbing both traffic fatalities and climate change, and address the housing crisis that is squeezing so many residents in Jersey City, Hoboken and throughout the state.  With Donald Trump back in the White House and the Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, the role of states and cities is more important now than ever.  We are the laboratories of democracy that will move our state and country forward.”

High-minded talk to be sure, which is what you expect from a candidate.

As for the nitty gritty of politics, the incumbents in this solidly-Democratic district are Jessica Ramirez and John Allen.

Allen and Bhalla have had a close political relationship. Last spring, I recall Allen being one of the few Democratic office holders attending a Bhalla for Congress event at a Sikh temple in Jersey City.

Some may see Allen and Bhalla running as a team, but there are also reports Allen may not seek reelection.

Another announced candidate is Katie Brennan.

And more may be coming.
Back to Bhalla, he clearly is building his Assembly candidacy on what he sees as his successes in Hoboken.

His announcement statement notes that he has made the city a safer place to walk, bike and drive, adding that the city has gone eight years without a pedestrian fatality.

Moreover, he notes that Hoboken is one of only 10 cities around the world to receive an “A” rating from the environmental impact non-profit, CDP for its climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives.

The initiatives range from providing plentiful electrical vehicle charging options to creating state of the art resiliency parks designed with infrastructure to combat flooding, a serious problem in a city lying alongside the Hudson River.