Steven Michael Fulop (born February 28, 1977) is an American politician who served as the 49th mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey from 2013 to 2026. A member of the Democratic Party, he was formerly the Councilman for Jersey City's Ward E. from 2005 to 2013.
Fulop was first elected mayor on May 14, 2013, defeating incumbent mayor Jerramiah Healy. Fulop was re-elected in 2017 with 78% of the vote, the largest margin for a mayor in the city since 1949. He was again re-elected in 2021, becoming the first Jersey City mayor to win a third term since Frank Hague. Fulop did not seek re-election to a fourth term as mayor, instead he ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of New Jersey in 2025, but lost to Mikie Sherrill. In October 2025, he was announced as the next president of the Partnership for New York City.
Early life Fulop was born on February 28, 1977, in Edison, New Jersey, to Jewish parents, Carmen and Arthur Fulop.https://www.nj.com/essex/2013/06/from_a_newark_deli_to_jersey_city_hall_fulop_family_has_made_a_long_journey.html From a Newark deli to Jersey City Hall, Fulop family has made a long journey from NJ.com Both of his parents were born in Romania; his maternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors. His father, who owned a delicatessen in Newark, New Jersey, grew up in Israel and served as a sniper in the Golani Brigade during the Six-Day War. Fulop often worked at the deli, while his mother worked in an immigration services office.
Fulop attended Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva, an Orthodox day school in Edison, through sixth grade. He then transferred to the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union (now Golda Och Academy) in West Orange, New Jersey. After two years, he enrolled in public school and graduated from J. P. Stevens High School in Edison.
In 1999, Fulop graduated from Harpur College at Binghamton University, where he had also studied abroad at Oxford University. He later earned dual master's degrees in 2006: a Master of Business Administration from the New York University Stern School of Business and a Master of Public Administration from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.
Early career Finance and military service After graduating from college, Steven Fulop joined the investment banking firm Goldman Sachs, working in Chicago before moving to its downtown Manhattan and Jersey City offices. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, he put his finance career on hold to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.
On January 14, 2003, shortly after completing boot camp, Fulop's reserve unit was activated and deployed to Iraq.Zernicke, Kate. "A New Mayor to Match Jersey City’s Ambitions" The New York Times (June 30, 2013) He served for six months with the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, which provided engineering, logistics, water purification, and fuel support, enabling swift movement through the country. His unit's contributions and challenges were documented in several periodicals during the war. The New Jersey Star-Ledger highlighted Fulop on multiple occasions for leaving his Wall Street job to serve in the military.
After his tour in Iraq, Fulop returned to Goldman Sachs. In early 2006, he left the firm for a position at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co.Young, Elise. "Former Wall Street Trader Fulop Ousts Jersey City's Mayor" Bloomberg News (May 15, 2013) and completed his service in the Marine Corps Reserve with the rank of Corporal."Steven Fulop" on the VetFriends website
Campaign for U.S. Representative In the 2004 Democratic primary for New Jersey's Congressional District, Fulop unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Bob Menendez, losing the June 8 election 12.6% to 87.4%. (Menendez was later elected to the U.S. Senate, serving three terms before resigning in 2024 following a political corruption conviction.)
Jersey City City Council In May 2005, Steven Fulop was elected to represent Ward E on the Jersey City City Council, defeating an incumbent councilman. At 28, Fulop became the youngest member of the council by more than 17 years and the third youngest in the city's nearly 200-year history. The New York Times noted that Fulop won without establishment support, overcoming an opponent backed by prominent figures such as Congressman Robert Menendez, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, and the Hudson County Democratic organization.
Despite being outspent by a margin of more than two-to-one, Fulop's victory was attributed to several tactical innovations highlighted by The Star-Ledger, The New York Times, and The Jersey Journal.
Fulop was re-elected in May 2009 with 63% of the vote. In 2012, The Hudson Reporter ranked him fourth on its list of Hudson County's 50 most influential people.Fernández, Adriana Rambay, LaMarca, Stephen; Pope, Gennarose; Smith, Ray; Sullivan, Al; and Wright, E. Assata "They've Got the Power". The Union City Reporter; (January 8, 2012), pp. 1, 4–7, 10–11. In 2010, he led local opposition to a proposed gas pipeline through downtown Jersey City.
Legislation As a councilman, ethics reform was one of Fulop's primary interests. In September 2007, he introduced a comprehensive ethics reform package. The proposals included restrictions on the use of city vehicles, a ban on officials holding multiple government positions, and requirements for income transparency and lobbying restrictions. After the council rejected the legislation in a 6–1–1 vote, Fulop moved to put two ethics reform referendums before the voters.
The first referendum aimed to prevent "double dipping," the practice of collecting more than one taxpayer-funded salary. While state law prohibits banning an official from holding multiple offices via a popular vote, it does permit a municipality to withhold a second paycheck and benefits if approved by referendum. The goal was to reduce the financial incentive for holding multiple government jobs. The second referendum sought to bar any entity doing business with the city from making political contributions to local candidates for one year. This measure was intended to prevent developers, contractors, and other interested parties from financially influencing elected officials who have power over their specific interests.
Political prospects Following his re-election to the council, some observers expected Fulop to run for mayor in 2013. His political influence was demonstrated in 2010 when a slate of candidates he backed won all three open seats on the Board of Education.
In September 2016, Fulop decided against a run for governor and instead endorsed his former rival, Phil Murphy. He then chose to run for a second mayoral term.
Mayor of Jersey City (2013–2026) On May 14, 2013, Fulop defeated incumbent mayor Jerramiah T. Healy with 53% of the vote to become the 49th mayor of Jersey City. He took office on July 1, 2013, with the stated goal of making Jersey City the "best mid-sized city in the country." Citing population growth and residential construction, Fulop predicted that Jersey City would surpass Newark, New Jersey, to become the state's largest city by late 2016.
Fulop, who had a reputation as a reformer on the city council, ran on a platform of government transformation, improved public safety, expanded services, and stabilized taxes. He is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition.
On January 3, 2023, Fulop announced he would not seek a fourth term in 2025. On April 11, 2023, he announced his candidacy for Governor of New Jersey. Following his June 2025 loss in the Democratic primary, Fulop announced that in October 2025 that he would begin leading the business advocacy group Partnership for New York City after his third term ends.
First Term Initiatives (2013–2017) Within his first 100 days, Fulop merged the Police and Fire Departments and the Office of Emergency Management into a single Department of Public Safety, a move projected to save money by eliminating administrative redundancies. He tasked the new department with increasing diversity in its recruitment and retention. The police force grew from 778 officers when he took office to a projected 840 by June 2014.
To increase government transparency and responsiveness, Fulop established the city's first Citizen Public Safety Advisory Review Board via executive order. He also overhauled the "Mayor's Action Bureau," renaming it the "Residents Response Center" and expanding its staff and hours.
Fulop's administration implemented several city-wide improvements. In 2014, he announced a $6 million investment in renovating 13 city parks and provided funding to accelerate the construction of Berry Lane Park. To incentivize development beyond the waterfront, his administration created a tiered tax abatement policy. In February 2014, the city issued a request for proposals to restore the historic Loew's Jersey Theatre. The administration's first budget, introduced in March 2014, cut property taxes by 2.1 percent. Fulop also started the Jersey City Mural Arts Program and a prisoner re-entry program led by former Governor Jim McGreevey.Cox, Paul.“Jersey City Unveils Mural Arts Program" Jersey City Independent (October 11, 2014).McDonald, Terrence. “Training Ex-Offenders is the Right Thing to Do to Boost Our Economy" NJ.com, (March 3, 2014).
In September 2013, Jersey City became the first city in New Jersey to require paid sick leave for most employees after Fulop and the municipal council passed the legislation."Jersey City Passes Its Own Sick Leave Bill" WNYC News (September 26, 2013)."Jersey City’s Sick Time Ordinance FAQ’s" on the Jersey City website (Accessed May 1, 2014). A strong supporter of LGBTQ rights, Fulop officiated a midnight wedding ceremony when same-sex marriage was legalized in New Jersey. During his administration, Jersey City has received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index. In September 2015, the city expanded healthcare coverage to transgender municipal employees, a first in the state.
In September 2015, Jersey City launched a Citi Bike bikeshare program, connected to New York City's system. The city also launched United Rescue, a volunteer, app-based emergency medical first-responder program designed to reduce EMS response times. In October 2015, Jersey City legalized Airbnb and launched an open data portal to make government information more accessible. In February 2016, Fulop signed an executive order making Jersey City the first in the state to set a $15 minimum wage for city employees."Jersey City first to institute $15 minimum wage for municipal employees" NJBiz (March 14, 2016).
Second and third term initiatives (2017–2025) In May 2018, Fulop opposed providing subsidies for a real estate project from the Kushner family, which had requested a 30-year tax break and about $9 million in city-issued bonds.
On March 16, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fulop ordered the temporary closure of the Jersey City Newport Centre and Hudson Mall, an action Governor Phil Murphy extended to all malls statewide the following day.
Under Fulop's leadership, Jersey City implemented Vision Zero, and subsequently became one of the few American cities to have a full year with no road crash deaths. He supports congestion pricing to reduce traffic and raise funds for NJ Transit and the PATH. In January 2025, he proposed a congestion toll for New York drivers entering Jersey City.
Controversies Katyń Memorial