Katie Brennan and Ravi Bhalla Join Forces in Historic Independent Slate for New Jersey Assembly

Progressive reformers will run on the same slate, independent of any political boss or machine, to fight for housing, public transit, the climate, and government accountability

Jersey City / Hoboken – Housing policy expert Katie Brennan and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla announced today that they will run together on the same slate in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 32nd Legislative District, maintaining their independence from political machines and party bosses.

The decision comes after both candidates had previously set out to run individually, a stance they were forced to reconsider following the passage of the new ballot redesign law (A5116/S4142) that puts candidates running without a slate at a disadvantage. Katie Brennan and Ravi Bhalla each testified against the ballot redesign legislation, calling for fair ballots that treat each candidate the same.

“When Ravi and I testified against the ballot redesign bill, we made clear that bracketing puts candidates running on their own at a disadvantage,” said Katie Brennan. “While we continue to fight for truly fair ballots, we’re running on the same slate because the residents of Jersey City and Hoboken deserve legislators who will fight for them and aren’t beholden to any political machine. This puts us in the best position to win while maintaining our independence.”

“Katie and I share similar visions for what Jersey City and Hoboken need in Trenton,” said Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “We’re both committed to making government work for the people, and we each have our own record of getting things done inside and outside of government. By running together, we’re creating the strongest possible ticket to deliver on making housing more affordable, improving public transit, curbing climate change, funding our schools, and protecting our state against federal threats.”

The Brennan-Bhalla ticket brings together complementary expertise and proven records of accomplishment at the local, state, and national levels:

Katie Brennan is a nationally recognized housing policy expert who has worked at every level of government to make housing more affordable. She successfully took on Governor Christie to protect New Jersey’s affordable housing laws and helped secure the largest influx of funding for affordable housing in the state’s history. As a survivor of sexual assault, she spearheaded more than a dozen legislative reforms to strengthen protections for survivors and increase accountability for those in power.

Ravi Bhalla, as Mayor of Hoboken, has earned national recognition for his leadership on pedestrian safety, climate resilience, and inclusive governance. Under his leadership, Hoboken has gone eight years without a pedestrian fatality and received an ‘A’ rating from CDP for its climate initiatives. He has been a leading voice opposing NJ Transit fare hikes, the Turnpike expansion, and the undemocratic county party line.

Both candidates emphasized that while they are running on the same slate, they remain committed to challenging the status quo and bringing true independent leadership to Trenton.

“The current system isn’t working for the people of Jersey City and Hoboken,” said Brennan. “We’re facing a housing crisis that’s pushing residents out of their homes, transit systems that are unreliable, and state government that continues to cut funding from our schools. Ravi and I are running to fix these broken systems and deliver real results.”

“At a time when democracy itself is under threat, New Jersey needs leaders who will stand up to powerful interests and fight for what’s right,” said Bhalla. “Katie and I have proven that we’re willing to take on those fights and win. Together, we’ll be a powerful voice for residents of the 32nd district.”

The candidates will hold joint meet and greet events in Jersey City and Hoboken later this month.

The 32nd legislative district includes Hoboken and the Downtown, Journal Square, and Heights neighborhoods of Jersey City. The Democratic primary election will be held on June 10, 2025.

About Katie Brennan

Katie Brennan is a long-time Jersey City resident, community advocate, and dedicated public servant with expertise in housing policy and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault. She has worked in leadership roles at state and local housing agencies in New Jersey and New York, helped secure historic funding for affordable housing, and successfully advocated for stronger protections for tenants and survivors.

About Ravi Bhalla

Ravi Bhalla has served as Mayor of Hoboken since 2017, following his tenure on the Hoboken City Council from 2009 to 2017. A nationally recognized civil rights attorney, he has led Hoboken to become a leader in pedestrian safety, climate resilience, and inclusive governance. Under his leadership, Hoboken has implemented innovative solutions to flooding, expanded EV charging infrastructure, and maintained perfect scores on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index.