As the primary election nears, New Jersey finds itself at a crossroads—and Ras Baraka is making it clear he intends to lead the way forward. Speaking with fire and focus in the backyard of Councilwoman Julienne Cherry’s Plainfield home, Baraka rallied nearly 100 attendees, delivering a message that resonated far beyond the fence line. The Newark mayor and gubernatorial candidate wasn’t just stumping for votes—he was laying down a challenge.
“It’s OK to be afraid. It’s not OK to be a coward.”
With those words, Baraka launched into a passionate call to action, urging New Jerseyans to resist fear-based politics and embrace bold, values-driven leadership. You can explore more of New Jersey’s political scene here.
A Campaign Rooted in Conscience
Baraka has never been one to play it safe. As a former high school principal, current mayor, and lifelong activist, he’s made a career of confronting hard truths head-on. On this campaign trail, he’s doubling down on that legacy, offering a platform that dares to “Reimagine New Jersey.”
What does that mean?
It means a state where health care is a right—not a privilege—through a single-payer system. It means a transit network built not just for Wall Street commuters, but for everyday residents, including “grandma trying to get to the supermarket.”
It means rethinking the structure of our government entirely—asking why New Jersey has 564 municipalities and even more school districts, and whether consolidation could be the key to easing our crushing property tax burden.
Baraka isn’t just proposing tweaks—he’s calling for transformation.
The Courage to Be Uncomfortable
Throughout his speech, Baraka returned to the idea of discomfort—not as something to avoid, but as a necessary part of growth.
“The problem with fear is that it makes you make safe decisions, not right decisions.”
This isn’t just political rhetoric. Baraka recently put his beliefs into action, getting arrested during a protest outside a Newark immigrant detention center—a symbolic stand against federal policies he considers inhumane. Though the charges were quickly dropped, the message was clear: Baraka is willing to put his body on the line for what he believes in.
That conviction is earning him passionate support. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Mayor Adrian Mapp stood with him in Plainfield, praising his commitment and vision. Mapp noted that Baraka has been relentless in his campaign, “from north to south and east to west,” and confidently declared, “Plainfield will show up in a big way.”
A State at a Crossroads
New Jersey politics can be famously unpredictable. With six candidates in the Democratic field and polls showing Mikie Sherrill currently in the lead, there’s everything to play for. But Baraka’s pitch is clear: he’s not running to blend in—he’s running to stand out.
Some voters worry he’s “too progressive, too Newark, too Black” for a statewide win. Baraka addresses that head-on. He doesn’t shy away from who he is. Instead, he asks voters to embrace it—because real progress doesn’t come from candidates who play it safe. It comes from leaders willing to speak uncomfortable truths and take meaningful risks.
The Spirit of the Movement
Drawing parallels to civil rights trailblazers, Baraka urged the crowd to remember the students who staged sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in the 1960s. “You either ran with those kids at North Carolina A&T … or you stayed in your dormitory,” he said.
That history lesson wasn’t just nostalgia—it was a challenge. In today’s political climate, neutrality is complicity. Silence is permission.
“If you do not feel discomfort, you are on the wrong side.”
What’s Next for New Jersey?
As the primary approaches, voters face a pivotal choice. Do they want politics as usual—or are they ready for a New Jersey reimagined from the ground up?
Ras Baraka believes the state is ready for something bigger, bolder, and fairer. Whether that vision comes to fruition will depend on how many people are willing to leave their comfort zones and join the movement.
To follow Ras Baraka’s campaign and explore the evolving political landscape in the Garden State, visit Explore New Jersey Politics.
Explore New Jersey is your destination for stories that matter, voices that inspire, and the issues shaping our communities. Stay with us for the latest updates as this dynamic race unfolds.
