NJ Political Heavyweights Choose Sides In Bloomfield Town Council Race

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield’s 2026 town council primary election is attracting attention from some political heavyweights in New Jersey.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, U.S. Rep. Analilia Mejia and New Jersey Sen. Britnee Timberlake have all made endorsements ahead of the primary, which takes place on Tuesday, June 2.

Seats on the Bloomfield Town Council are available in all three wards.

Democratic candidates will compete for their party’s nomination in the primary election. The winners will match up against any independent or third-party candidates in a general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

No Republican candidates filed to run in this year’s primary.

The Democratic candidates have aligned into two slates, with another candidate, Paul Bonica, competing in the second ward:

• Rosalee Gonzalez (first ward), Jason Martinez (second ward), Sarah Cruz (third ward)
• Stefanie Santiago (first ward), Greg Babula (second ward), Stef Bootwala (third ward)

Each slate has landed some major endorsements in the weeks leading up to the primary election.

‘FOR THE LOVE OF BLOOMFIELD’

Sherrill and Booker have backed Gonzalez and Cruz – both incumbents – in addition to newcomer Jason Martinez.

“All three believe in good government that puts Bloomfield residents front and center — fixing roads, cleaning up parks, improving public safety, and modernizing the town’s communication and transparency with residents,” Sherrill said.

“This is an exciting team that represents the innovation and rich diversity of Bloomfield and will serve residents with responsive, responsible leadership,” she added.

Booker also backed the slate, saying that they are “committed to solving real problems and building a stronger future for everyone.”

“I saw this firsthand, when Bloomfield approached me for assistance securing federal funding for the town’s Lead Service Replacement Program,” he said. “As a result of their advocacy, I was able to secure $480,000 to help ensure Bloomfield residents have safe drinking water and reduce the financial impact on the community.”

‘BLOOMFIELD FOR PROGRESS’

Last week, Kim, Mejia and Timberlake announced their endorsement of the challengers: Santiago, Babula and Bootwala.

The three lawmakers said the trio are a “new generation of leaders ready to move Bloomfield forward with transparency, accountability and leadership rooted in community.”

“At a time when trust in government is at a record low, they are stepping up with a positive vision that puts working families first and focuses on delivering real results for Bloomfield residents,” Kim, Mejia and Bootwala said in a joint statement.

“We are proud to endorse Stefanie, Greg, and Stef for Bloomfield Town Council and encourage our neighbors to get involved in these final weeks to help build the future Bloomfield deserves,” the lawmakers said.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.