Hudson County Democratic Organization Announces Support for

Crystal Fonseca and Jennie Pu for Assembly

Hudson County Democratic Organization Chair Craig Guy, Vice Chair Marielka Diaz, the HCDO Executive Committee, and State Senator Raj Mukherji announced their support for 32nd Legislative District Assembly candidates Crystal Fonseca and Jennie Pu. The primary election will be held on Tuesday, June 10. Fonseca is of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, while Pu would be the first Chinese American lawmaker in state history and the first Asian American woman to represent Hudson County if elected. The 32nd Legislative District is ~30% Asian American and ~20.3% Hispanic.

Jennie Pu is Director of the Hoboken Public Library and a longtime parent volunteer and PTA leader, advocating for public schools and delivering programming and services to children and residents. She previously served as a school librarian within the Jersey City Public Schools, which her children attend, and Dean of Libraries for Hudson County Community College. Jennie was the first Hudson County librarian to be named the New Jersey Library Association’s Librarian of the Year (2024). In 2019, she received the Jersey City Public Schools Parent Leadership Award for her efforts, and in 2020, Jennie was named a Jersey City Woman of Action by Councilman James Solomon for her advocacy in support of public school funding and parent education. A resident of Jersey City for the past two decades, she is a former trustee of the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association. Jennie is committed to continuing her long history of advocating for Hudson County residents by securing a fairer school funding formula to minimize the local property tax burden on Hoboken and Jersey City residents, improve public safety, and fund and secure the reliable, quality mass transit service that she uses regularly and that Hudson County residents deserve.

Because of her hard work and unrelenting commitment to community, Pu was praised by NJ Library Association Executive Director Brett Bonfield as a “role model for other libraries and directors” and for her “tenacious and fearless efforts to support intellectual freedom and the right to read.” Skip Auld, the CEO of a county public library in Maryland, called her a “force of nature” and Hoboken Mayor Ravinder S. Bhalla previously noted, “Jennie Pu’s leadership has been instrumental in making our public library a beacon of knowledge and a sanctuary for diverse voices.”

Crystal Fonseca has dedicated 20 years in municipal public service to Jersey City, where she presently serves as the Division Director of Buildings and Street Maintenance. A tireless public works professional, she has also served as Personnel Manager at the City of Jersey City Department of Public Safety. In addition to overseeing daily operations to ensure quality-of-life services for Jersey City residents in her leadership role at DPW, she served for three years as a member of the Newark Board of Education – rising to serve as Vice Chair of the state’s largest school system – prior to permanently settling in Jersey City several years ago. Part of a large Puerto Rican family raised by her grandparents, Crystal had to juggle college with the responsibilities of de facto parenthood at the age of 19 following the death of her grandmother who had adopted four girls who had been in the foster system since birth. After their loss, Crystal took on the responsibility of helping her grandfather raise her four younger stepsisters who have in adulthood embraced the same commitment to public service as Crystal. Her early economic and personal struggles, along with her professional experience, shape Crystal’s commitment to a fair economy, quality urban education, and quality, accessible healthcare. As an elected Hudson County Democratic Committeewoman, Crystal is horrified by the Trump Administration’s fulfillment of its most harmful promises.

Statement of Chairman Guy and Vice Chairwoman Diaz

“We have committed to making sure Democratic voices are heard throughout Hudson County since being elected to lead the HCDO, but we are even more focused on lifting those voices after November’s election.  Together with our senior leadership team, we have been working every day to make sure Hudson County Democrats know they have a direct line into the decision-making process, and our support of Jennie and Crystal strongly evidences that this new process is working. We are fortunate to have several strong Democratic candidates for Assembly in Hudson and, particularly, in the 32nd District; Jennie and Crystal’s commitment to public service and focus on affordability, public education, and advocacy for improved public transit make them the best candidates to represent us in Trenton.”

Statement of Senator Raj Mukherji (D-32)

“I have witnessed firsthand how hard Crystal and Jennie work for my constituents in their municipal service, and their passion and drive on issues that I also care about and their respective stories of their upbringings – as children of immigrants – resonated with me. They will both make exceptional and effective legislators, just as they have been effective advocates for our community.”

Statement of Crystal Fonseca

“I’ve devoted my entire career to public service and have seized every opportunity to truly understand the needs of area residents and families and, more importantly, to be responsive to those needs. If elected, I intend to work every single day in Trenton to make sure my constituents have a representative that won’t shy away from the critical fights we have in front of us. We must stand against the regressive MAGA policies of Donald Trump while aggressively fighting for affordability and opportunity for our neighbors.”

Statement of Jennie Pu

“As a mom, librarian, and PTA leader, I’ve spent my career bringing people together to drive positive change. As a 20-year resident of Hudson County, I know the challenges we face in raising a family and building a future in a place that’s becoming harder to afford. I am asking the voters for the opportunity to represent our district in the New Jersey General Assembly because we all deserve to live in a community that is safe, accessible, and affordable. We deserve leaders who will always put the public good over personal interest and deliver real solutions.”