JOEL BROOKS AND JAKE EPHROS MAKE HISTORY AS FIRST DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ELECTED IN NEW JERSEY IN OVER A CENTURY
JOEL BROOKS AND JAKE EPHROS MAKE HISTORY AS FIRST DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ELECTED IN NEW JERSEY IN OVER A CENTURY
JERSEY CITY, NJ — Joel Brooks and Jake Ephros, DSA-endorsed candidates for Jersey City Council, declared victory in their runoff elections to represent Wards B and D on the City Council, respectively. Ephros, a teacher, and Brooks, a labor organizer, were both heavily outspent by machine-backed candidates who solicited donations from real estate developers and MAGA Republicans. Despite this, they secured victory by knocking on 75,000 doors and making 125,000 phone calls — building a true grassroots movement for universal childcare, universal rent control, and safe, clean, green streets.
“The Democratic Socialists of America are proud to congratulate Jake and Joel on their historic elections,” said Chanpreet Singh of DSA’s National Electoral Commission. “Jake and Joel built bold, socialist campaigns that put workers first — standing up to machine corruption and corporate interests while putting universal childcare and universal rent control at the forefront of the political conversation in Jersey City. Their wins cap off a historic election cycle for DSA in municipal races, including wins like Zohran Mamdani’s in New York and another 11 nationally endorsed DSA candidates across the country. Jake, Joel, and DSA’s burgeoning electoral project show us that Americans from every walk of life are clamoring for change. And change is coming.”
“Together, we showed Jersey City that the DSA platform is a winning platform,” said Jake Ephros and Joel Brooks in a statement. “Voters across the city rejected the tired, corporate politics of the past and embraced a real vision for our future — one that puts the working class of Jersey City front and center. Together, we will lower rents, deliver universal childcare, and invest in every child. Jersey City deserves nothing less.”
