Hudson County Electoral College Member: Today’s Inauguration is Day of Unity, Opportunity to Move Our Nation Forward

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — On December 14 when New Jersey sent 14 Electoral College Members to Trenton to vote for Joe Biden as the next president of the United States, Hudson County’s own Francesca Giarratana made history by seconding the nomination of Kamala Harris to serve as the first female Vice President. Giarratana, a 32-year-old lifelong resident of Jersey City, has been actively involved in public affairs and local politics since she was a teenager, helping elect Democrats up and down the ballot who represent the core values that our Constitution was founded on.

“Growing up in Jersey City, I was afforded the opportunity to embrace the diversity of our country from my own backyard and witness firsthand as friends and neighbors pursued their American Dream,” said Francesca Giarratana, Hudson County’s Electoral College Member. “The values that Hudson County represents were threatened time and time again over the past four years, but the path forward begins now. Today as we welcome President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to lead our country, we must replace divisiveness with unity and encourage our national leaders to use this momentum to work hard to pass fair, inclusive, and far-reaching policies that will benefit the nation as a whole.”

Giarratana was selected as Hudson County’s Electoral College Member by HCDO Chairwoman Amy DeGise because of her passion to ensure that everyone has their voice heard. Giarratana has spent the past decade working alongside community leaders and elected officials to secure fair and accurate funding for essential programs and services. Already a fierce advocate for promoting civic duty, Chairwoman DeGise felt it was only fitting for Giarratana to be given the opportunity to speak on behalf of Hudson County in voting for President Biden and Vice President Harris.

“The past four years of Trump’s administration will forever remain dark chapters in the books of American History, but together we fought for our rights and spoke loudly at the polls that this was not the future we visioned for our country,” said HCDO Chairwoman Amy DeGise. “Today not only marks the beginning of a new administration, but it serves as a signal of hope for so many of us. I am so incredibly proud of our new President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and the countless individuals, like Francesca, who worked tirelessly to bring the change we so desperately needed to Washington.”

About Francesca Giarratana: Giarratana is a lifelong resident of Jersey City who studied Communications, Law, Economics and Government at American University. She holds a Masters Degree of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers Bloustein Schools of Planning and currently serves as the Division Chief for Hudson County Planning. She played an integral role in Hudson County’s robust 2020 Census efforts and has long been active in local politics, having interned with Congressman Frank Pallone, former Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and with the Department of Urban Planning and Housing.