Hoboken, NJ — Katie Brennan and Ravi Bhalla have won the Democratic primary in Assembly District 32, according to news reports on the latest vote tallies. In one of the most closely watched legislative races in New Jersey, the pair defeated candidates backed by the powerful Hudson County political machine. Their victory marks a major milestone for grassroots power and climate leadership in North Jersey — and a sharp rebuke of the entrenched political establishment.

Despite strong institutional backing for their opponents, Bhalla and Brennan prevailed by campaigning on climate and environmental justice, political reform, and championing the needs of everyday residents. A defining issue in the race was their opposition to the $11 billion New Jersey Turnpike expansion — a widely criticized plan that would worsen air pollution, increase emissions, and impose significant environmental and quality-of-life burdens on nearby communities. 

Both candidates also pledged to support the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act, a landmark bill that would make corporate polluters pay for the damage they’ve caused — a major concern in coastal communities like Hoboken and Jersey City already facing the effects of sea level rise.

“These victories are a clear rejection of politics as usual in Hudson County,” said Matt Smith, New Jersey State Director at Food & Water Action. “For decades, machine-backed candidates coasted into office with the backing of party bosses and a system built on pay-to-play politics. But voters in LD32 proved that independent candidates who reject corporate power and fight for their communities can win. Katie and Ravi stood up to powerful interests and won by standing with their communities. Their victories are a model for what people-powered politics can look like across New Jersey.”

Food & Water Action helped lead a major field effort to support the Brennan-Bhalla ticket. Over six weeks, the group knocked on 25,000 doors, held more than 3,500 voter conversations, and identified over 2,100 supporters — part of a major field effort to help turn out voters across the district.