In June, New Jersey’s primaries brought an incredible victory for progressives and democracy in the state. Grassroots champions Katie Brennan and Ravi Bhalla won against powerful, party-backed candidates in Assembly District 32.

Their campaign overcame the Hudson County political machine and $1 million in campaign spending by their opponents and supporting PACs. And their victory is a clear rejection of politics-as-usual in the County. Voters in District 32 proved that candidates who reject corporate power and fight for their communities can win. 

This is a monumental victory for people-powered politics across New Jersey. And it’s just the beginning.

This Year’s Fair Ballots Bring Meaningful Change to New Jersey Politics

For decades, New Jersey has used a county line ballot design. This gave party-backed candidates front-and-center placement on the ballot, while independent challengers were relegated to the corners. 

As a result, New Jersey’s elections have long tipped away from being free and fair. Any candidate not backed by the political machine faced odds rigged against them; the county line ballot effectively allowed party bosses to hand-pick winners.

The transition from the county line to a fair ballot is one of the most significant democratic reforms in the modern history of New Jersey. And in the case of District 32, it enabled fair politics and grassroots issues to triumph against the status quo.

Brennan and Bhalla Fight for New Jerseyans

The end of county line ballots gave independent candidates a vital opportunity. Katie Brennan and Ravi Bhalla seized it with a campaign that centered issues that matter to their communities. They advocated for climate and environmental justice and political reform, and championed the needs of working families and everyday people. 

Brennan and Bhalla also pledged their support for the state’s Climate Superfund Act. This landmark bill would make corporate climate polluters cover the rising costs of climate change. It would prevent these costs from falling on communities like Hoboken and Jersey City, which are already facing climate-driven sea level rise. 

Additionally, the candidates have been strong opponents of the proposed $11 billion New Jersey Turnpike Expansion and campaigned on a commitment to fight this project in Trenton. This proposal has received vocal opposition and criticism in the region, as it threatens more air pollution, more climate emissions, and terrible environmental and health burdens on nearby communities. 

Brennan and Bhalla made solidarity with these communities central to their platform. Meanwhile, their party-backed opponents stayed silent on the issue for most of the campaign season and took money from Turnpike contractors. Voters made it crystal clear which they preferred.

Food & Water Action Gets Out the Vote

When we first saw Brennan and Bhalla’s campaigns, we knew we had found powerful allies and wasted no time supporting them. Food & Water Action helped lead a huge field effort to rally voters. In just six weeks, we knocked on 25,000 doors and talked to more than 3,500 voters about the candidates’ leadership on climate and environmental justice issues.

Ultimately, just a few hundred votes made the difference. Our work made a huge impact in connecting District 32 with these grassroots champions. In a place long dominated by party politics, their win showed the energy these candidates brought out of voters — and how much power we stand to gain with future efforts. 

Now, with these two lawmakers in office, the voters of District 32 have true allies in Trenton. They’ll fight for their neighbors and communities and work to ensure climate and environmental justice. They’ll continue opposing the Turnpike expansion and advocating for the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act. 

And, crucially, they’re loyal to their constituents — not to a political machine or corporate donors.

We’ll Continue to Win Grassroots Progress Across New Jersey

Hudson County wasn’t the only place to see a meaningful shift. From Bayonne to New Brunswick to Maple Shade, new challengers took on party incumbents with locally focused campaigns. 

Some of the state’s most powerful Democrats had to reckon with people power for the first time in decades. Incumbents once thought invincible had to fight real, contested, competitive races. 

All this progress is an encouraging sign for New Jersey state politics, as a fairer ballot and fairer process will allow grassroots campaigns to win even more in the future. The state’s voters now know that independent candidates who fight for them have a fighting chance. And the New Jersey political scene now knows that voters are hungrier than ever for candidates who fight for working families and against dirty infrastructure.

This race marked a bright new chapter in New Jersey politics. Fair elections have finally cleared the way for more people-powered climate champions. We can’t wait for the next one.