Jersey City, NJ - Jersey City Mayoral candidate James Solomon issued the following statement in reaction to the election night results that saw him in first place and will advance into the runoff election against Jim McGreevey:

“The voters in Jersey City have sent an unambiguous message tonight: they want change, they want affordability and they want a clean, ethical government that they can be proud of. Since day 1, our election has zeroed in on the issues that matter and that’s why we are advancing to the run-off with an incredible amount of momentum. And, we are going to win. I would like to thank my wife Gaby, my children, my campaign team and all the supporters and volunteers who stood out in the cold, knocked on doors and spoke to people about our campaign."

More on the RUNOFF from The HUDSON COUNTY VIEW HERE.

"I would like to congratulate Bill O’Dea, Mussab Ali, Joyce Watterman, Christina Freeman, and Kalki Jayne-Rose who stepped up and made this a race about the future of Jersey City," Solomon added. "This race is better because they ran."

"Jersey City has become one of the most unaffordable cities in the nation. As Mayor, I have a plan to protect our tenants by capping rent increases, stabilize our property taxes, and build 20% affordable housing in all large new developments. We’re going to create truly affordable units at $1,000 under so that people can actually afford to stay in the city they love.

"The contrast in this runoff could not be clearer: while I have fought my entire career against the corrupt political machine that makes everything more expensive, Jim McGreevey is the living embodiment of the corrupt, failed, politicians of the past. He already had his chance, and he resigned in disgrace. Tonight, the overwhelming majority of Jersey City voters rejected Jim McGreevey because they know exactly what he is: someone who let them down once, and then in his comeback has relied on MAGA megadonors like the Kushner Family, Donald Trump’s pollster and still refuses to say a single bad word about Trump and his administration. He’s not going to be able to make Jersey City more affordable or to stand up for Jersey City.

"The runoff is crystal clear: I have a vision for the future, Jim McGreevey represents the corrupt machine politics of the past– it’s time to turn the page.”