Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-33) of Jersey City this afternoon formally launched his candidacy for the state senate in Hudson County.

His full statement on his intention to snag the newly reconfigured 32nd District senate seat:

“I’m running to serve in the State Senate.

“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to represent the people of Jersey City, Hoboken, Union City, and Weehawken in the General Assembly for the better part of the last decade and to serve alongside and learn from the constituent services legend and hardest working public servant in America, Brian Stack.

“Under the final new map released today by the Legislative Apportionment Commission, I am heartbroken that I will be separated from Union City in my new legislative district. Nevertheless, much work remains to be done on behalf of Jersey City and Hoboken when it comes to improving public transit, ensuring housing affordability and alleviating our property tax burden, recovering from the global pandemic both with respect to public health and economically, improving our schools, making college more affordable, expanding every New Jerseyan’s fundamental right to access quality healthcare, achieving fairness for our diverse Hudson County populations, making necessary capital investments in infrastructure, and protecting our environment and open spaces. The goal of securing a brighter tomorrow for my toddler son, Leo, and infant daughter, Liana, has strengthened my resolve to keep fighting for our state. So I’m humbly asking the people of Jersey City and Hoboken to return me to the Legislature, this time in the Senate.”

The assemblyman immediately revealed some key endorsements.

Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop:

“My friend and fellow Marine, Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, has been an extraordinarily effective representative for the people of Jersey City and a reliable partner of ours in state government. The past two years of the pandemic have only underscored how critical it is to have effective representation at the state and federal levels. There is nobody better qualified to represent our city in the Senate than Raj.”

State Senator and Union City Mayor Brian P. Stack:

“For the last eight years, Assemblyman Raj Mukherji has been a tenacious fighter for Hudson County. The personal interest he takes in handling so many constituent issues makes him a oneof-a-kind  legislator. He has been a reliable and skilled partner to me in passing bills to improve every aspect of the lives of the people of New Jersey, and he is a person of integrity. Our colleagues in Trenton know he can be counted on to be attentive to the details, to fight hard for his constituents, and to keep his word. I proudly endorse him for the State Senate, and we will work day and night for Raj to make sure our neighbors continue to be well represented in the new district.”

Hoboken Mayor Ravinder S. Bhalla:

“From securing funding for Hoboken’s open space and resiliency projects, helping preserve our waterfront at Union Dry Dock, and moving forward critical transportation projects, Raj Mukherji has been a steadfast champion for our community. And, as the son of South Asian immigrants and a successful small business owner, Raj has the real life experience that will serve him well in the State Senate. I’m incredibly proud to support his candidacy so Hoboken can continue to have the representation it needs in Trenton.”