Another prominent New Jersey Democrat entered the increasingly competitive 2025 gubernatorial race.

During a Monday night Black History Month event in Trenton honoring The Divine 9, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka officially announced his candidacy for the race to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy, who is term limited.

On the Democrat side, Baraka joins Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and former Senate President Steve Sweeney as declared candidates. Still others are expected/rumored to join the fray. On the Republican side, state Sen. Jon Bramnick, R-21st District, is the only declared candidate.

Others are anticipated to officially join the Republican race as well, such as former assemblyman and 2021 candidate Jack Ciattarelli.

All of this sets the stage for an interesting stretch here in Jersey politics.

Baraka, 53, is currently serving his third term as Newark mayor.

The timing of the announcement comes on the heels of his cracking the top 10 on NJBIZ’s 2024 Power 100 List, which also came out Feb. 19.

“Whether or not he’s planning a run for governor in 2025, Newark Mayor Baraka is busy making progress. And lot of that is in the very physical sense,” NJBIZ presciently wrote in its profile of Baraka, coming in at No. 7. “Take a look around and the Brick City is building and buzzing. While structures reach skyward, Baraka is working hard on the ground to make sure there’s space for everyone in New Jersey’s largest city.”

This story is developing. Please stay with NJBIZ as more details are learned.