Ras Jua Baraka (born April 9, 1970
) is an American politician, author, and educator. A member of the
Democratic Party, Baraka is the 40th and current
mayor of Newark, New Jersey. First elected in the
2014
The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
election, he was sworn into office on July 1, 2014, and was reelected in
2018
Events January
* January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency.
* January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...
and
2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
.
Prior to his election as mayor, he served on the
Municipal Council of Newark and as principal of the city's
Central High School.
Baraka sought the Democratic nomination for
governor of New Jersey
The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The ...
in the
2025 election, but lost in the primary to
Mikie Sherrill.
Early life and education
A Newark native, Baraka is the son of poet and activist
Amiri Baraka
Amiri Baraka (born Everett Leroy Jones; October 7, 1934 – January 9, 2014), previously known as LeRoi Jones and Imamu Amear Baraka, was an American writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays, and music criticism. He was the author of numerous b ...
(born Everett Leroy Jones), and poet and actress
Amina Baraka (born Sylvia Robinson).
Baraka was educated in the
Newark Public Schools
Newark Board of Education is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in the city of Newark in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The state took over the dis ...
, attending
University High School.
[Baisden, Cheryl]
"New Jersey Q & A: Ras Baraka; Young Challenger for Newark Mayoralty"
''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', May 1, 1994. Accessed October 2, 2024. "Born: April 9, 1969, in Newark. Education: University High School, Newark. B.A. in political science, Howard University, 1991." He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in
political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...
from
Howard University
Howard University is a private, historically black, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and accredited by the Mid ...
in Washington, DC; and a Master of Arts degree in education supervision from
Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University is a private Jesuit university in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States. Founded as Saint Peter's College in 1872 by the Society of Jesus, the university offers over 60 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than ...
in
.
Career in education
Baraka was the principal of
Central High School from 2007 until 2013.
Before he was principal, he was a school teacher.
Poetry, spoken word, and hip-hop
Baraka edited the 1992 book ''In the Tradition: An Anthology of Young Black Writers''.
Baraka was featured on singer
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American musician. She is celebrated as one of the most influential musical artists of her generation. Hill is credited with breaking barriers for female rappers, contributing to the popular music, m ...
's 1998 ''
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'', as the narrator of several interludes on the album. He also recorded the intro to ''
The Score The Score may refer to:
Films and television
* The Score (1978 film), ''The Score'' (1978 film), a 1978 Swedish film, released in Sweden as ''Lyftet''
* The Score (2001 film), ''The Score'' (2001 film), a 2001 crime drama film starring Robert De Ni ...
'', the
Fugees' second album. Baraka and Hill recorded an unreleased single together titled "Hot Beverage in the Winter", which later featured on his spoken-word album ''Shorty for Mayor''.
Baraka dedicated his collection of poems ''Black Girls Learn Love Hard'' to the life of his late sister, Shani Baraka,
who had been fatally shot in 2003.
He had read as part of the city's
Dodge Poetry Festival.
Baraka has participated in the National Political Hip-Hop Convention. In 2019, Baraka released the spoken word video ''What We Want''.
In 2025, an audio recording of Baraka's poem ''American Poem'', which he performed on Def Poetry Jam on HBO in 2003, was featured in singer
Beyonce's Cowboy Carter tour.
Early political career
Between 2002 and 2006 Baraka was Newark Municipal Council member and in 2002 was appointed deputy mayor, and served that position until 2005. In November 2005, Baraka was voted to complete the term vacated by the deceased Councilmember-at-Large
Donald Kofi Tucker.
In May 2010 he defeated then-councilman Oscar James II in a highly contested election, on a platform critical of Mayor
Cory Booker
Cory Anthony Booker (born April 27, 1969) is an American politician serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from New Jersey, a seat he has held since 2013. A member of the Democ ...
. The election was documented on the
Sundance TV
Sundance TV (formerly known as Sundance Channel) is an American pay television channel owned by AMC Networks that launched on February 1, 1996. The channel is named after Robert Redford's character in ''Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'' and, w ...
reality television series ''
Brick City'', which stars Booker, Baraka and other Newark political and residential figures.
Mayor of Newark
Elections
Baraka ran his first campaign for mayor when he was 24 years old, in
1994
The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations.
In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...
.
Baraka ran in the
2014 Newark mayoral election against former Assistant State Attorney General
Shavar Jeffries, after fellow council members Anibal Ramos, Jr. and Darrin Sharif dropped out of the race. In August 2013, fellow council members
Mildred C. Crump and
Ronald C. Rice issued statements formally backing Baraka's candidacy.
Baraka's slate for the municipal council included John Sharpe James (council member-at-large running for South Ward), Mildred C. Crump (council member at-large incumbent), Alturrick Kenney (at-large candidate), Patrick Council (at-large candidate) and Joe McCallum (West Ward candidate).
In December 2013, the
Communications Workers of America
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States, representing about 700,000 members in both the private and public sectors (also in Canada and Puerto Rico). The union has 27 loc ...
endorsed Baraka.
In February 2014 he received the endorsement of former New Jersey governor
Richard Codey and Jersey City mayor
Steven Fulop. In March he was endorsed by
1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.
On May 13, 2014, Baraka was elected mayor of Newark. Official results show that of 44,951 ballots cast, he received 24,358 to Jeffries' 20,593. He succeeded
Luis A. Quintana, who was completing the term of
Cory Booker
Cory Anthony Booker (born April 27, 1969) is an American politician serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from New Jersey, a seat he has held since 2013. A member of the Democ ...
, who had resigned after being elected to the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...
in October 2013. Baraka was sworn in as the city's 40th mayor by former
Governor of New Jersey
The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The ...
Richard Codey at ceremonies at the
New Jersey Performing Arts Center on July 1, 2014, for a four-year term.
Baraka was re-elected in 2018 and 2022.
Transition
Soon after winning the 2014 election, Baraka initiated meetings with Cory Booker on May 19 with Governor
Chris Christie
Christopher James Christie (born September 6, 1962) is an American politician and former United States Attorney, federal prosecutor who served as the 55th governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. A member of the Republican Party (United States) ...
, and
Essex County executive
Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to:
Role or title
* Executive, a senior management role in an organization
** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators
** Executive dir ...
Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. on May 21.
On May 28, 2014, Baraka announced his transition team, headed by former mayor
Kenneth Gibson.
Baraka appointed his brother, Amiri "Middy" Baraka, Jr. as his chief of staff.
Tenure
''
Politico
''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American political digital newspaper company founded by American banker and media executive Robert Allbritton in 2007. It covers politics and policy in the Unit ...
'' has described Baraka as "one of the most progressive Democrats in New Jersey, and possibly the nation".
During his tenure as mayor, Baraka has earned praise for improving Newark's economic prospects.
Newark schools
The
Newark Public Schools
Newark Board of Education is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in the city of Newark in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The state took over the dis ...
system (serving approximately 40,000 students) was placed under state control in 1994. Newark is one of 31
Abbott district
''Abbott'' districts are school districts in New Jersey that are provided remedies to ensure that their students receive public education in accordance with Constitution of New Jersey, the state constitution. They were created in 1985 as a resul ...
s. The state is required to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the
New Jersey Schools Development Authority.
In 2010,
Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Elliot Zuckerberg (; born May 14, 1984) is an American businessman who co-founded the social media service Facebook and its parent company Meta Platforms, of which he is the chairman, chief executive officer, and controlling sharehold ...
, the founder of Facebook, donated $100 million of his personal fortune through his foundation StartUp Education to the Newark school system. Release of the funds required matching funds, which were mostly raised through the Foundation for Newark's Future and have largely been spent, though funds remain.
Teams of consultants have suggested numerous management reforms from the top down, but according to Baraka, echoing concerns of many residents, they have ignored the community and the needs of children and wishes of families in the
neighborhoods. A restructuring program called ''One Newark'' calls for the closure of some public schools and the opening of more charter schools (some in public school buildings).
The reorganization, spearheaded by state-appointed Superintendent Cami Anderson, would relocate, consolidate or close one quarter of the district's schools that she has determined are underutilized. The plan has met with stiff resistance from large segments of Newark's population, with critics saying there was no evidence it will increase student performance. The plan would also include teacher lay-offs. While there is some agreement with many of the policies being implemented in the program, the disregard for community input and the pace of change has drawn criticism.
The plan will require some students to leave their neighborhoods and travel across the city, with many parents fearing for their safety.
Baraka ran for election with a campaign to take back local control of the schools. In May 2014, Newark, which already had control of operations (includes student transportation and other support services), was granted local powers over budget and finance, giving the local advisory board its first formal vote on the district's nearly $1 billion in annual spending. The state retains the right to veto any action of the local board and has the final say in appointing the superintendent of the district. Baraka, as an outspoken advocate of returning control of Newark's schools to local authority, has called for the ouster of state-appointed Superintendent Anderson. Anderson's contract was renewed in June 2014.
A discrimination complaint filed on behalf of Newark parents and the Newark branch of New Jersey's Parents Unified for Local School Education (PULSE) claims that 86 percent of the students affected by "One Newark" changes are African American, while African-American students make up 51 percent of the entire district. The allegation is being investigated by the
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education is a cabinet-level department of the United States government, originating in 1980. The department began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and ...
's Office of Civil Rights.
Baraka has called for the resignation of Cami Anderson, the state-appointed superintendent. Anderson resigned in June 2015. While Anderson's resignation made the situation less politically volatile, Baraka opposes the creation of more charter schools, and believes they come at the expense of public schools.
Crime and gang violence
In October 2013 Baraka introduced his program to deal with crime and gang violence in the city, the Ras Baraka Blueprint to Reduce Crime and Violence in Newark. It includes "Project Chill", which incorporates elements similar to Boston's
Operation Ceasefire and other engagement with gang members and intervention programs. As of June 30 there had been 43 homicides in 2014. In 2013 through June 30, the city recorded 41 homicides. A surge of violence in the second half of 2013 pushed the homicide total to 111, the most since 1990. In 2019 and 2020 the city had 51 homicides.
In Fall 2014, Baraka started the Model Neighborhood initiative, which increased police presence in troubled neighborhoods.
In 2020, Baraka created the Office of Violence Prevention & Trauma Recovery to steer resources to the root causes of violence, while ensuring that the many organizations contributing to public safety are working in alignment. The city has now achieved a historic 60-year low in violence.
Underwater mortgages and eminent domain
Between 2008 and mid-2013, 6,810 homes were foreclosed in Newark, and citywide, and homeowners in the city and lost roughly $1.8 billion in home values. At that time about 9,000 Newark residents were "underwater", where payment balances are higher than the fair market value of the property. In May 2014, Baraka introduced a resolution adopted by the municipal council that would affect an estimated one thousand Newark homeowners threatened with foreclosure, giving the city legal authority to purchase home with
underwater mortgages through
eminent domain
Eminent domain, also known as land acquisition, compulsory purchase, resumption, resumption/compulsory acquisition, or expropriation, is the compulsory acquisition of private property for public use. It does not include the power to take and t ...
and refinancing them. it is estimated that more than 50% of Newark homes are financed by underwater mortgages, partially as a result of the
2010 United States foreclosure crisis.
Newark Watershed
The Newark Watershed comprises 35,000 acres of reservoirs and water treatment and supply systems for more than 500,000 customers in northern New Jersey including Newark and neighboring Belleville, Elizabeth, Bloomfield and Nutley. It is considered one of the city's greatest assets. A New Jersey State Comptroller report issued in February 2014 revealed irregularities and corruption within the Newark Watershed and Development Corporation, which is the process of being dismantled after being taken over by the city. In March 2014, Baraka called for a
forensic audit of the agency. Despite protestations from the city council, in April 2014 a Superior Court judge ruled that the city must continue to fund the agency during the process.
In 2019 the Ras Baraka administration began a massive effort to replace lead water pipes that were causing lead in drinking water to exceed federal limits. By spring of 2021, local officials had removed more than 20,000 lead service lines.
In 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris called Newark “the national model” for lead line replacement. The replacement of over 23,000 lines in the city, which was estimated to take eight years, was completed in just under three years.
Budget deficit and state oversight
In August 2014, citing a $30 million deficit in the city's 2013 budget and an anticipated $60 million deficit for 2014, Baraka said that Newark would likely have to ask for emergency aid from the state, which, if received, would require state oversight and involvement in the city's financial affairs. As of September 2014, the state's Local Finance Board, overseen by the
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, had not taken action. That same month, the city auctioned properties, most of which had been foreclosed, in an attempt to raise funds. The state's Department of Community Affairs awarded Newark $10 million in transitional aid, which comes with a required oversight
memorandum of understanding. The state will hire a private firm to oversee the city's financial management and compliance. The state will reduce budgets for the city clerk and expenses for council members as part of the agreement.
Housing
In 2014, Baraka initiated a program, called Model Neighborhoods, intended to take a comprehensive approach to addressing the factors causing troubled neighborhoods.
In 2014, the city initiated a Valentine's Day building lot sale in which married couples could purchase housing plots in the city for $1,000, provided they built a house on the lot within 18 months. Nearly 100 plots were sold; as of 2015, few had been built on, due to insufficient financing.
Campaign financing violations
In November 2017, Baraka and his campaign treasurer were issued a 28-count complaint by the
New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, alleging they violated campaign finance rules in the 2014 mayoral election, mainly for failure to fully disclose the source of $396,000 in campaign donations in the expensive and tightly contested campaign.
Kailaasa scam
In March 2023, Baraka invited supposed representatives of
Kailaasa, a self-proclaimed micronation, to Newark's City Hall to enter a "cultural trade agreement" and become
sister cities
A sister city or a twin town relationship is International relations, a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties.
While there ar ...
. Kailasa is a self-proclaimed island micronation (in its own words, a "Revival of the Ancient Enlightened Hindu Civilizational Nation") off the coast of Ecuador. The island had been purchased by
Swami Nithyananda, a self-proclaimed "godman" and ashram founder often referred to as a scam artist. ''
NBC'' reported that Baraka, along with the
municipal council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough cou ...
, was duped by Nithyananda and his "fake country".
City officials, including Baraka, took photos and signed documents to make Newark a "sister city" with Kailaasa. Baraka was not aware of the scam until after an official ceremony had been held.
Newark City Hall called the scam a "regrettable incident," a council member referred to it as an "oversight," and Newark residents expressed embarrassment that city officials did not bother to perform a basic Google search to determine whether "Kailasa" was a real country or city.
ICE arrest
Baraka has opposed the reopening of the
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE; ) is a Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security. ICE's stated mission is to protect the Un ...
(ICE) detention facility at Delaney Hall in Newark, having the city litigate against its opening. Baraka said the facility had not opened with proper permits and that city inspectors had not been allowed to enter. ICE officials denied these claims.
On May 9, 2025, Baraka was arrested by (ICE) agents outside of the Delaney Hall ICE facility. Interim U.S. Attorney
Alina Habba said Baraka was arrested because he "committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center". Baraka attempted to join a congressional delegation conducting
oversight, was denied entry by a federal official, and then Baraka exited the secure area of the facility and returned to stand on public property; however, minutes later, federal agents surrounded Baraka, handcuffed him, and brought him inside the facility.
In a press conference after the arrest, Democratic House representative
Rob Menendez said ICE agents "feel no restraint on what they should be doing, and that was shown in broad daylight today". Baraka had an initial court appearance, was charged with trespassing and was later released on the same day of his arrest. After release, he told waiting supporters, "The reality is this: I didn't do anything wrong." Baraka voiced support for the people and immigrants in his community. He did not speak about his case, saying he made a promise to the judge and lawyers.
Baraka has said since his arrest that he will continue to oppose the Delaney Hall ICE facility, both in court and through protests. On May 19, 2025, Habba announced that the charges were dropped and invited him to tour the facility with her.
2025 gubernatorial campaign
On February 19, 2024, Baraka announced that he would run for governor of New Jersey in the
2025 election. He has called for a "progressive overhaul" in New Jersey, and his campaign agenda includes "
reparations,
sanctuary state laws,
baby bonds, and
universal basic income
Universal basic income (UBI) is a social welfare proposal in which all citizens of a given population regularly receive a minimum income in the form of an unconditional transfer payment, i.e., without a means test or need to perform Work (hu ...
". Following the death of U.S. Representative
Donald Payne Jr., who represented the
10th congressional district, Baraka was mentioned as a potential candidate in the upcoming special election. However, Baraka affirmed that he would not run for the seat and would continue to mount his gubernatorial candidacy.
At an event at
Rowan University
Rowan University is a public research university in Glassboro, New Jersey, with a medical campus in Stratford and medical and academic campuses in Camden. Founded in 1923 as Glassboro Normal School on a site donated by 107 residents, the scho ...
, Baraka called incarceration and policing in New Jersey “uneven, costly and racist.”
''New Jersey Globe'' described Baraka as "the Bernie Sanders of the 2025 governor’s race" for his budget proposal to raise taxes on the state's highest earners and reduce the tax burden on household incomes of $0 to $90,000.
Personal life
Baraka is the father of three daughters. In 2019, Baraka married political consultant Linda Jumah. Baraka and Jumah had a son in 2019.
Through his father, some of Baraka's half-sisters are
Kellie and
Lisa Jones and
Dominique di Prima. (Jones was their father's last name at the time they were born.)
See also
*
List of mayors of Newark, New Jersey
*
''Street Fight'' (film)
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baraka, Ras
1970 births
20th-century African-American people
21st-century African-American politicians
21st-century mayors of places in New Jersey
African-American city council members in New Jersey
African-American mayors in New Jersey
American community activists
American school principals
Howard University alumni
Living people
Mayors of Newark, New Jersey
Members of the Municipal Council of Newark
New Jersey Democrats
Candidates in the 2025 United States elections