NEWARK, N.J.—Smooth sounds of live jazz filled the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) as hundreds gathered to witness and celebrate the 2026 Inauguration and Organization Meeting of Mayor Ras J. Baraka and the Newark Municipal Council on July 1.
The inauguration ceremony, attended by a packed audience, marked the beginning of Mayor Baraka’s fourth consecutive term as the elected mayor of Newark, New Jersey.
His swearing-in comes less than two months after his landslide victory in the May 2026 mayoral election, in which he won roughly 70% of the votes, according to the certified election results by the Essex County Clerk’s office.
Thus, defeating all seven of his political opponents, including the next-best-performing candidate, Jhamar Youngblood, who received less than 17% of the vote, and consequently allowing Mayor Baraka to confidently secure his third reelection.
His confidence did not end at the polls. Instead, Mayor Baraka carried it with him to his inauguration.
Together with the Newark Municipal Council members, Mayor Baraka confidently walked across the stage at NJPAC, guided by the sounds of a live performance of Swahili African drums.
On that stage, accompanied by his wife, Linda J. Baraka, their children, and his mother, Amina Baraka, he took his fourth oath of office, officiated by Newark City Clerk Kecia Daniels, with U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver as the Bible holder.
As the audience emerged into waves of resounding applause, cheers, and chants, Mayor Baraka took the microphone to deliver his highly anticipated address.
Contrary to the city’s familiarity with him as their now 12-year mayor, in his speech, Mayor Baraka vowed to serve his next four years in office as an usher of a new and improved era of governing for the city.
“Each time we have an inauguration, there’s an opportunity to start all over again, to continue forward, to decide to pivot, start new. Inauguration means transition,” the mayor proudly told the crowd. “The old way of doing politics is finished,” he continued.
“People want a government that actually works, that can make good on its promises. They want to be led by hope because hope is the best weapon that we have—optimism and the force of bold ideas,” he later added, promising to make the next four years Newark’s “best” years yet.
As another indication of that new era of government in Newark, the inauguration ceremony also included swearing-in ceremonies for all nine seats of Newark’s Municipal Council. Oaths of office were also taken by the following: Amina Bey, Patrick O. Council, C. Lawrence Crump, Donna Jackson, Dupre L. Kelly, Luis A. Quintana, Anibal Ramos Jr., Louise Scott-Rountree and Michael J. Silva.
The Newark Municipal Council is the legislative branch of Newark, New Jersey’s local government. It functions as the primary body responsible for making significant decisions that affect the city, such as passing city laws, ordinances, and adopting the municipal budget.
The Final Call previously reported on Councilwoman Amina Bey’s winning of the Newark Central Ward Council seat in a close special election to fill the seat vacated by her predecessor LaMonica R. McIver’s election to U.S. Congress in November 2025. In that reporting, The Final Call noted Ms. Bey’s seat would again be on the ballot in May 2026.
Looking to remain in the seat for her first full four-year term, Councilwoman Bey ran for re-election to represent the Central Ward on the Newark Municipal Council. She won the general election on May 12, receiving over 55% of the vote, making her the first Muslim woman elected and re-elected to local office as a representative of the Newark Central Ward.
“First and foremost, I give all praise, glory and thanks to Almighty God (Allah). His grace, mercy and guidance have brought me to this moment,” Councilwoman Bey said, addressing the audience after she was sworn into office.
“As the first and only Muslim elected to the Newark Municipal Council, I understand the significance of this moment. But I did not come here to be defined by a first; I came here to make sure I am not the last,” she added, declaring her priority on the council as one of opportunity, expansion.
Councilwoman Bey’s address highlighted her desire to ensure equitable opportunity is given to those in the region of Newark she represents—a stance also echoed by the other council members in their addresses.
Following the ceremony, the council met for its first reorganization meeting. During the meeting, At-Large Councilman Luis A. Quintana was unanimously elected as council president.