Newark, New Jersey — A’Dorian Murray-Thomas today declared victory in her first bid for election as a nonpartisan at-large member-elect of the Newark Public Schools Board in New Jersey. The Essex County Clerk’s Office called the election in favor of Murray-Thomas after updated vote counts showed her with an insurmountable lead over her opponents.

Three at-large seats on the Newark Public Schools school board in New Jersey were up for general election on April 16. A’Dorian Murray-Thomas was selected as the Mayor Ras Baraka’s candidate and ran with two others on the Moving Newark Schools Forward slate. A slate  endorsed by Mayor Baraka, the entire Newark Municipal Council and several other elected state and local officials.

On April 30, A’Dorian was sworn into office at the Elliott Street School in Newark.

A 2016 graduate of Swarthmore College, at age 23, Murray-Thomas made history becoming the youngest woman voted on to the Newark School Board since its existence. A’Dorian cruised to a landslide victory in this 2019 election, receiving  25.32% of the total votes, making her the highest vote getter in the election. She received double-digit percentages of the vote.

Her win secures her a first term as a board member representing over 30,000 students  in the Newark School District which is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey with origins dating back to 1676. After a decades-long state takeover, the board regained provisional control of the city’s more than 60 schools and nearly $1 billion budget last year. Murray-Thomas and members of the board will usher the city back to full local control in the coming months.

“I want to say thank you to my community for their continued confidence in me,” A’Dorian said to a group of her supporters. “I ran an honest, positive campaign based on my record, and I am proud that voters responded to that. I have never taken the trust people have in me or the work I do for children and families for granted, and I look forward to continuing to work hard for all the students in Newark and for all of my constituents.”

She continued, “Newark Public Schools serves more students than any other district in the state of New Jersey and  more students who come from families with lower incomes. It is extremely important to me we support efforts to demonstrate all schools are equitable in both funding and resources.  Our children and families deserve that.’

Murray-Thomas is the CEO and Founder of SHE Wins, a leadership organization she founded for Newark girls who, like her, lost a parent to homicide in Newark.

Murray-Thomas’s campaign was a grassroots effort that included volunteers, both young and old, from throughout the city of Newark.  With an emphasis on galvanizing and working with millennial voters and leaders in Newark, together they visited residents in every ward, contacted thousands of  constituents by phone, attended and held events throughout our community that showcased the diversity and talents of all the communities in Newark.

Murray-Thomas added, “I personally knocked on doors to meet residents so they could  know who I am and what I represent. I also met with several high school students, seniors and community groups to not only explain what the role of the school board is but to get their ideas and concerns about what’s happening in our schools.” A former translator for Spanish speaking families, Murray-Thomas was able to make some of her presentations speaking completely in Spanish.