New Jersey Governor Candidates Answer Our Questions on Segregation & Equity

This story was co-reported with The Jersey Bee as part of our joint Equitable Cities Reporting Fellowship, examining segregation in Newark and Essex County, New Jersey.

A dozen candidates have announced their candidacy for New Jersey governor. Early voting in gubernatorial elections will run from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2 and polls close on Nov. 4, election day. But the Democratic and Republican party voters can select their party’s candidate in primaries on June 10. Voters can vote by mail, in-person early voting, or at their polling location on election day. (Register to vote or check your registration at Vote.NJ.gov.)

We reached out to all confirmed candidates about their plans to build a more just and equitable New Jersey as part of our ongoing reporting on solutions to segregation in the state.

Often referred to as the “slave state of the North,” New Jersey was home to more than two-thirds of all of the enslaved Black people in the Northern United States by the 1830s. While slavery was abolished in the state in 1866, the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination has persisted. In the 1930s, the federal government racially segregated housing and land development while local governments created policies to keep Black people from accessing beaches, recreation centers, and schools.

Today, in Essex County, more than two-thirds of white families own their homes compared to just 28% of Black families and 34% of Latinx families, according to a New Jersey Institute for Social Justice report. Communities of color continue to face barriers to accessing essential resources like healthcare and food.

About the candidates

Six of the 12 candidates who are running responded by email to our questions: Ras Baraka, Robert Canfield, James Fazzone, Steven Fulop, Mikie Sherrill and Sean Spiller. The candidates’ responses have been lightly edited for readability and spacing. We reached out repeatedly to all candidates but did not receive a response at the time of publication from Josh Gottheimer, Stephen Sweeney, Jack Ciattarelli, Jon Bramnick, Bill Spadea and Edward Durr. They are invited to submit responses to add to this article.

All bios were provided by the candidates and have been lightly edited for uniformity.

Ras Baraka: Ras Baraka, the current mayor of New Jersey’s largest city, is deeply invested in the future of New Jersey and holds a steadfast belief in its potential. As he pursues the governorship, Baraka’s vision for the state is anchored in the core values of equity, opportunity, and community. By prioritizing economic growth, educational advancement, housing accessibility, and inclusive policies, he seeks to empower every resident to thrive and contribute to the state’s prosperity. Baraka’s unwavering belief in New Jersey’s capacity for greatness drives his commitment to building a brighter and more inclusive future for all of New Jersey.

Robert Canfield: Rob Canfield is a Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey, committed to restoring integrity, accountability, and prosperity to the Garden State. With six years of experience as a real estate broker associate and instructor, Rob understands the value of hard work and building strong communities. A lifelong advocate for constitutional rights, fiscal responsibility, and education reform, Rob’s campaign is focused on protecting 2A rights, ensuring fair funding for schools, and creating opportunities for families to thrive. He’s passionate about addressing rising costs, improving government transparency, and championing policies that benefit all New Jerseyans. Rob resides in Brick, NJ, with his wife and two children, and has been an active member of his community for decades. He’s ready to fight for a better future for New Jersey by putting people over politics.

James Fazzone: As a former Mayor, Superintendent of Schools, teacher, principal, member of the Board of Education, college professor, and parent, James Fazzone believes he has the training and experience to serve as Governor of the State of New Jersey. James also has a doctorate in leadership which gives him an understanding of how to serve the public and the experience as a leader with a strong track record in serving the public.

Steven Fulop: Steven Fulop is the 49th Mayor of Jersey City, where he has led initiatives that include becoming the first city in New Jersey to mandate paid sick leave, implementing public safety reforms, and driving record economic development without raising taxes. A first-generation American and Marine Corps veteran, he left a career at Goldman Sachs after 9/11 to serve in Iraq and later transitioned to public service, winning upset elections as both a councilman and mayor. Fulop, a graduate of Binghamton University, NYU, and Columbia University, is now running for governor in 2025, leveraging his grassroots approach to leadership.

Mikie Sherrill: Mikie Sherrill is a former Navy helicopter aircraft commander, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and mom of four kids. She represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and is running for governor to lower costs, create opportunity, and protect New Jersey’s rights and freedoms.

Sean Spiller: Before Sean Spiller was a candidate for governor, he served as the Mayor of Montclair, served our community as a public school teacher, rose to the rank of President of the New Jersey Education Association, and is, most importantly, a husband and dad who gets to walk his kids to school each morning. But Sean’s impact extends far beyond his students. As the president of one of the largest unions in New Jersey, there have been countless times where Sean has fought for policies to ensure that people are able to support their families. As the Mayor of Montclair, Sean has been a champion for smart, green development, helped reduce the town’s tax burden while implementing a debt-reduction plan, addressed the high cost of housing, and has helped make the school system even stronger.

Education

In 2018, a group of families and advocates sued New Jersey, alleging that school segregation deprived students of their rights to a quality education. Negotiations are still underway on the lawsuit. What are your plans for integrating New Jersey schools and ensuring a right to quality education if elected governor?

Ras Baraka: As governor, I will champion policies that dismantle school segregation by addressing systemic inequities. I will prioritize the integration of schools through regional approaches to enrollment and encouraging/incentivizing collaboration across municipal lines. We will create unified school districts and give diversity bonuses to schools that expand their enrollment through diversity. This will make it possible for families to send their children to schools across ZIP codes, ensuring equitable access to quality education regardless of a student’s residential address.

Robert Canfield did not respond to the individual questions but sent the following statement: I do not have the experiences of the people in these situations and communities. As Governor, I would want to physically go, talk to these people and communities and get answers directly from them on what they need, not what I think they need. I could only answer from my experience, and I don’t think that’s fair to anyone.

James Fazzone: I believe in parent rights in the education process. As a former principal, superintendent of schools, board member, college professor in education, and parent there are many variables involved in equity in education. I believe neighborhood schools are a choice some parents would make along with the interests of their children. Integration should be on a voluntary basis, in my opinion. If integration is possible, parents and students should be involved in determining the school of choice for students.

Steven Fulop: I’ve been clear that my first year in office will be dedicated to forming an independent board of educators, activists, and state leaders to create a thorough statewide plan addressing the root causes of segregation, from housing policy to outdated school boundaries. We can’t keep fighting these battles in court. Instead, we’ll revise the school funding formula to directly reward districts that take real steps toward integration, making the process transparent so parents, students, and taxpayers can see where every dollar goes. We’ll expand the use of magnet county schools to bring together students from a broader geographic area, and require middle schools to combine after-school sports, music, and arts with neighboring districts—because exposure and collaboration are key to bringing communities together.

As part of this effort, I will double down on building affordable housing statewide, so families of all incomes have the choice to live where they want, breaking down residential barriers that have perpetuated segregated classrooms. This work requires real commitment and a clear plan, and I’m ready to deliver exactly that—no excuses, no half-measures, just a full-court press to ensure every kid in New Jersey, regardless of their ZIP code, has the opportunity to learn and succeed in a truly diverse environment.

Mikie Sherrill: New Jersey has some of the best public schools in the country. But this isn’t true of every ZIP code and there are large disparities in educational opportunities that are not only unjust but also leave talent on the table. This is tied to the legacy of housing discrimination since most students attend local neighborhood schools, and the number of New Jersey students attending segregated schools has surged over the past three decades. That is unacceptable. We can start to address the deep-seated impacts of segregation by building a strong foundation through making early childhood education, pre-K, and kindergarten affordable and available everywhere in New Jersey. Following the pandemic, I’ve also worked hard to invest in high-impact tutoring and mental health resources in schools so all of our students can recover and get back on track – I will continue expanding these evidence-based programs as governor.

We need to make sure that students aren’t trying to learn on an empty stomach, which is why I will make school meals available at no cost for all students and expand health resources in our schools. I am committed to working with advocates and the state legislature to address this issue head-on because, to my core, I believe every student in New Jersey deserves access to world-class public schools.

I also understand the parties to the lawsuit are currently in mediation. It will be incumbent on the next governor to implement any agreement that is reached without delay. I believe part of the solution should include new regional magnet schools that enroll a diverse group of students from both urban and suburban communities. In my hometown of Montclair, the magnet school model has been effective in breaking down patterns of segregation across neighborhoods that were reflected in the school system. We should also explore expanding some existing programs to address segregation, including our vocational schools and the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, which allows students to enroll in a different public school district that better meets their needs.

Sean Spiller: As an educator, a black man, and the son of immigrants I am acutely aware of the challenges and inequities created by segregated schools – and equally aware that solutions are inextricably linked to housing and community development. What we know from decades of work nationally is that to successfully integrate schools, it takes community work.

My approach will be threefold: First, we need to be having the discussions and addressing head on the biases and barriers to community buy-in. Second, we need to leverage state funding to first address intra-district integration and then inter-district. We should be looking at creative approaches such as inter-district magnet schools that begin to break down barriers and offer unique educational opportunities. And third, just as important, is housing policy – aggressively addressing residual racism in housing policy and making both home ownership and affordable rental options accessible to more people in communities across the state. But let me be clear that we must make sure that every school in this state achieves the excellence every student deserves and has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

Housing

Some housing advocates have linked school segregation with residential segregation. What are your plans to respond to residential segregation and unequal access to housing for renters, first-time homebuyers, and families of color?

Ras Baraka: Combating residential segregation requires a multifaceted approach. My administration will be focused on ensuring affordable housing is available in all communities statewide, not just a select few. We will establish incentives for developers to build mixed-income housing, increase funding for first-time homebuyer assistance programs, and target resources to historically underserved communities.

Additionally, we will collaborate with local community-based housing organizations to address specific needs and create statewide solutions to change zoning ordinances and allow for increased housing density. We will also enforce statewide laws prohibiting landlords and housing providers from inquiring about incarceration history, discriminating based on the source of income, and using credit scores as a barrier to access.

James Fazzone: People should be able to choose where they live, based on their resources to purchase or rent homes. I believe that the “Abbott vs. Burke” decision on school funding provides some direction on how equalized school funding can ensure that each child receives a “thorough and efficient” education as guaranteed by the NJ State Constitution. I believe each child should be given the opportunity to succeed in a positive teaching and learning environment. (Editor’s note: The Abbot v. Burke ruling is a series of rulings where the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the state’s method of school funding was unconstitutional in the state’s poorest school districts, including East Orange and Irvington. Its directive ultimately led to widespread changes, including at-risk program funding and universal preschool.)

Steven Fulop: We can’t honestly talk about ending school segregation without tackling the root issue of residential segregation—and that starts with making sure every New Jerseyan, whether you’re renting, buying your first home, or belong to a community that’s historically been shut out, can actually afford to live here. That’s why I’m committing to doubling our affordable housing production statewide. We’ll make this happen by focusing on real incentives for developers who build near transit hubs, overhauling outdated tax abatement policies, and replicating success stories like Jersey City’s Bayfront project, which sets aside 35% of units as affordable.

I’ll also strictly enforce “fair share” obligations so every municipality pulls its weight, push for a statewide Right to Counsel so renters can defend themselves against unfair evictions, and invest in programs that give first-time homebuyers—especially those long denied a fair shot—the support they need to build wealth. Because let’s be clear: if we truly want to address segregation in our classrooms, we’ve got to create diverse, mixed-income communities where families from all backgrounds have the same opportunities to live, work, and thrive.

Mikie Sherrill: We have a massive housing shortage and lack of supply at all levels, which has caused prices to surge, forced so many families out of their communities, and not allowed first-time homebuyers to move into established neighborhoods. We need to build more houses in New Jersey to bring down these costs and ensure that people can afford to live here, as people have children they can afford homes in the neighborhoods where they want to send their kids to school, our kids can stay here and build their futures, and seniors can retire here with dignity. More housing will also drive down rental prices. For most families, home ownership is the largest investment they will make and the best opportunity they will have to build generational wealth. But the current housing crisis and high property taxes mean many families may never get that opportunity. I will tackle this crisis by working with our municipalities to build more “Missing Middle” housing and financing the conversion of underutilized infrastructure into residential units.

I will also strengthen first-time homebuyer programs to allow more New Jerseyans to build equity in the communities where they work and crack down on landlords who illegally discriminate against families and neglect to keep their properties in livable condition. As governor, I will also work with New Jersey municipalities to build new affordable units while cutting red tape.

Sean Spiller: We know there is bias built into access to mortgages and homeownership – which is the single best way to build generational wealth. Our state needs to increase its stock of homes that are affordable and we need to put more foreclosed homes back on the market quickly – and for sale to first time homeowners – not LLCs. But that has to be done with a laser focus on equity – so we have to stand up and make accessible home buyer programs funded by the state – down payment assistance for example – and make sure the banks are partners in creating opportunity. Likewise in the rental market we need to have robust oversight to make sure that people seeking affordable rentals are not declined or priced out of the market in diverse areas.

Immigration

New Jersey’s attorney general issued the Immigrant Trust Directive in 2018 to protect people who are reporting a crime from deportation. New Jersey is home to more than 2 million immigrants, nearly a quarter of the state’s population and one-third of the state’s workforce. Yet President-elect Donald Trump said he will execute the largest deportation program in U.S. history. (Editor’s note: These responses were gathered before the inauguration of Donald Trump to his second presidential term.) How will you ensure that all New Jersey residents, including immigrants and asylum seekers, remain safe amid changing federal policy?

Ras Baraka: New Jersey must remain a beacon of safety and opportunity for all its residents. As governor, I will support the Immigrant Trust Act currently in the legislature and ensure local law enforcement agencies do not serve as arms of federal immigration enforcement. I will support legal aid programs to protect immigrants from unjust targeting and invest in resources to help immigrant communities navigate housing, education, and healthcare systems. Furthermore, I will work to further integrate immigrants into our economy, recognizing their vital contributions to our communities and industries.

James Fazzone: My grandparents were immigrants. I believe we should have rules and regulations for all people coming to our country, as we have had in the past. Once students are in our country legally, I believe they should have all rights and privileges of citizens.

Steven Fulop: Keeping our communities safe means standing by our values: We don’t turn our backs on people in need, period. New Jersey has always been home to a diverse population—nearly a quarter of our residents are immigrants—and if elected governor, I’ll make sure that never changes. First, I’ll continue to uphold and strengthen the Immigrant Trust Directive so that no one fears reporting crimes or seeking help from our police. I believe a coordinated, statewide approach is critical: I’ll replicate our successes in Jersey City.

Mikie Sherrill: Our immigrant communities are an important part of the fabric that makes New Jersey great, and our law enforcement plays such a critical role in keeping New Jerseyans safe. As governor, I will work to build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Crucial to this trust is ensuring that our immigrant communities know there won’t be retaliation for interacting with law enforcement, showing up to court dates, and accessing our health care system. Law-abiding New Jerseyans deserve those assurances. As someone who has time and again taken an oath to defend our Constitution, I will continue to stand up against Trump’s illegal and improper use of the military on American soil. When I served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, I worked to balance justice and safety. So I know that New Jerseyans deserve real solutions to strengthen our border security, protect our safety, and stop the flow of fentanyl that is killing our citizens — not ineffective, political policies.

Sean Spiller: As the son of immigrants, I have been clear since day one that we will not allow state resources to be used by a Trump agenda of attacks on our immigrant communities. We will stand in opposition and defend our families. Donald Trump has not even taken office yet and the fear has already permeated communities. We see it in our schools – and we are preparing now to resist and to defend against tearing families apart and detaining people.

Healthcare

Black and Latine residents disproportionately die from preventable or treatable health causes compared to white and Asian residents. What are your plans to address longstanding inequities in our healthcare system for Black and Latine residents?

Ras Baraka: Addressing healthcare disparities begins with expanding access and eliminating systemic barriers. I will work to strengthen Medicaid, create incentives for healthcare providers to serve underserved communities, and invest in community health centers. My administration will push to cap prices and support legislation to ensure transparency in hospital pricing and outcomes, particularly for maternal and infant health. We will fight to implement reference-based pricing to ensure fair and predictable costs for healthcare services. We will also tackle social determinants of health by addressing housing, food insecurity, and environmental factors that contribute to poor health outcomes.

James Fazzone: Healthcare should be for all Americans.

Steven Fulop: I refuse to accept a New Jersey where Black and Latino residents keep facing worse health outcomes for conditions we already know how to prevent or treat. We’re going to ban premium hikes based on ZIP code, so people in lower-income or majority-Black and Latino neighborhoods aren’t priced out of basic coverage. I’ll also expand out-of-network mental health coverage for those stuck on endless waitlists, and reexamine hospital mergers that drive up costs while cutting vital services in vulnerable communities.

Beyond that, I plan to invest in culturally competent health programs—like the nutrition education and clinical care we brought right to overlooked neighborhoods in Jersey City—so people can get help where they live. We’ll cap child care costs for working families, streamline Medicaid so seniors and low-income residents don’t drown in red tape, and make sure reproductive healthcare isn’t dictated by your wallet. Finally, I’ll double our paid family leave and modernize early-intervention programs, because healthy starts in life lead to better outcomes down the road. The bottom line is this: until every family in New Jersey can see a doctor without worrying about cost, distance, or discrimination, we’re falling short.

Mikie Sherrill: Affordable and accessible healthcare is truly a lifeline for families. One of the reasons I first ran for Congress was to protect and improve the Affordable Care Act passed by President Obama, which protected coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, provided subsidies for low-income families, and made critical investments in preventive care. It’s essential that the federal government extend the subsidies that have helped low-income families buy their health coverage on GetCoveredNJ. Additionally, I helped pass federal legislation that dramatically lowered the cost of prescription drugs for seniors, including capping the cost of insulin at $35 a month — and will cap senior’s out-of-pocket prescription drug spending at $2,000 annually. New Jersey has taken the right steps, followed suit, and extended the Inflation Reduction Act’s insulin cap to GetCoveredNJ, as well as public employee benefits plans.

But we must do more, and as governor, I will direct the state to identify promising avenues for patient savings on prescription drugs. We know that women, and women of color in particular, experience poorer health outcomes and New Jersey needs to take strong action to address this. I’ve introduced federal legislation that would reduce heart health disparities for women by supporting the creation of educational programs for healthcare providers to ensure that they understand the differences in how heart disease presents in women. Despite heart disease being the number one cause of death for women in New Jersey, disparities in diagnosis and treatment persist. We must tackle New Jersey’s health crises from all angles, from heart health disparities to the unacceptably high Black maternal mortality rates. A Black mom in New Jersey is nearly seven times more likely to die from maternal health complications. I will continue to advance the efforts of Nurture NJ and invest in the work of the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority to eliminate this disparity and make New Jersey a safe place for all moms and babies.

Sean Spiller: I have been a strong voice for healthcare for all. However, providing health insurance is not enough – we have to address access and bias in care. So we need to look at access to healthcare across communities of color and that the medical profession is addressing bias in care and treatment. As Governor, I will make sure that as we see the consolidation of healthcare under a few large entities, that we work to make sure they place healthcare in all communities. We also need to lift up careers in healthcare to people of color and I will work with organizations like National Medical Fellowships to promote diversity in the workforce.

Environmental justice

New Jersey is home to 114 Superfund sites, the most in the country. These sites and other environmental contamination disproportionately impact low-income residents and communities of color, who are also most likely to be impacted by climate change. What are your plans to protect the health and environments of those most affected by environmental injustice, including those living with industrial contamination, lead contamination, or the increasingly impactful effects of climate change?

Ras Baraka: I will aggressively pursue our transition from fossil fuels while prioritizing environmental justice for communities with the greatest health risks. We will expand funding for lead pipe replacement and remediation programs while holding polluters accountable. My administration will also prioritize renewable energy development, energy efficiency programs, and green infrastructure, particularly in our most underserved communities.

James Fazzone: All residential areas should be safe and free of contamination.

Steven Fulop: I’ve seen up close how entire neighborhoods bear the brunt of toxic dumping, lead pipes, and the worst of climate change. My plan starts with fast-tracking superfund cleanups by cutting red tape and forcing polluters to pay for the damage they caused. We’re already doing it in Jersey City, where we’ve advanced a plan to transform a toxic site into a waterfront park, so it’s not just a cleanup but a real community asset. Next, we’ll replace aging lead pipes and demand landlords and developers do the same, because no family should have to worry about contaminated water. And with climate threats on the rise, stronger stormwater management and zero-emission transportation aren’t optional—they’re urgent. We’ll push for more permeable green spaces and hold big polluters accountable, channeling penalties right back into the hardest-hit neighborhoods. Environmental justice is about action, not lip service, and I’m prepared to bring the same urgency statewide that we’ve shown in Jersey City.

Mikie Sherrill: The climate crisis is an economic and public health issue and I’m proud to have led on this issue because all New Jersey families deserve clean air, clean water, and safe communities. As governor, I will take bold action to protect our communities impacted by climate change and environmental contamination. I’ll also build climate-resilient infrastructure and reduce our carbon emissions while also driving down energy costs and utility bills. In Congress, I’ve successfully brought back millions of dollars to New Jersey to make our communities more flood resilient, replace lead service lines and water infrastructure that threaten the safety of our drinking water, and take on environmental pollution. I’ve also led on Superfund site remediation projects that have been waiting, unfunded, on the National Priorities List — and introduced legislation to reauthorize a tax credit that incentivizes the cleanup of Brownfields. Finally, I’m working on legislation to redevelop cleaned-up Brownfields and Superfund sites into housing units to make life more affordable and give more people the opportunity to own a home.

Sean Spiller: Let’s be clear that under a Trump administration, getting the funding from the Federal government to address polluted communities and environmental contamination will be very difficult – therefore we need to maintain pressure through our Federal delegation but also as Governor, I realize the state needs to be prepared to be the front line to address necessary action.

First, we need to work on implementation of the New Jersey EJ law and make sure we are not creating loopholes and exceptions. We must work to clean up communities – shifting to electrified port vehicles, converting public transit to clean energy so buses that drive through these communities do not pollute, and invest in renewable energy sources that provide good, union jobs. We must also invest in impacted communities to support more open spaces, improve air quality, upgrade homes, and provide the critical healthcare needed to aid those who have been impacted. This has to be a sustained and holistic approach to move these communities from overburdened to green and healthy.

Kimberly Izar is Next City’s Equitable Cities Reporting Fellow for Segregation, in partnership with The Jersey Bee in Essex County, New Jersey. She covers a range of issues, including food access, public housing, labor, and Asian American arts and culture. Her work has been featured in NPR, Gothamist, Prism, WBAI and others. Previously, Kim was a movement fundraiser for nearly a decade. She received her M.A. in Engagement Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.

This post was originally published on Next City.

New Jersey Governor Candidates Answer Our Questions on Segregation &amp; Equity