Hudson County Commissioner Bill O'Dea Files for Ninth Term, Pledges Fight for Affordability and Immigrant Rights

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea has filed nominating petitions for re-election, launching his bid to represent District 2 in Jersey City for a ninth term in office, his campaign announced Monday.

O’Dea, a lifelong Jersey City resident, has served as county commissioner since first winning his seat in 1997. He is recognized as an advocate on economic development and affordable housing issues and has made government accountability a centerpiece of his tenure.

“At this time when Jersey City and Hudson County are facing tremendous challenges and residents need elected officials who will fight for them, I’m excited to run for re-election and to continue working hard for the people,” O’Dea said in a statement. “I’ve always been an advocate for transparency, responsible government and progressive values, and in this new political era I believe that the County Commissioners will have a tremendous opportunity to deliver real change on behalf of the people of Hudson County.”

Among the policy priorities O’Dea says he will pursue in a new term beginning in January 2027 are increasing transparency by moving public meetings to 6 p.m. and restoring five-minute public speaking times, serving as a budget watchdog to protect working families as federal pandemic funding ends, and continuing to advocate for immigrant rights in opposition to ICE enforcement activities — a position he has held since at least 2018.

O’Dea also says he will push to fight the proposed closure of Christ Hospital in Jersey City, demanding that an acute care facility remain accessible to residents. On housing, he is calling for any new development on county-owned property to include at least 30% deeply affordable units and 20% workforce housing for middle-class families.

Throughout his tenure, O’Dea has declined salary increases and voted against county budgets that raised property taxes, according to his campaign. He has also championed increased contracting opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses and maintained close ties with organized labor.

O’Dea has received endorsements from Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, Hudson County’s full state legislative delegation and the Hudson County Democratic Organization, among other community supporters and advocacy groups.

The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 2026, with the general election to follow in November.

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