Baraka Sworn In As Newark Mayor For 4th Time; City Council Elects President

"Each time we have an inauguration, there’s an opportunity to start all over again," Ras Baraka said.

By Eric Kiefer, Patch Staff

Jul 2, 2026 10:26 am EDT

Ras Baraka (left) was sworn in as mayor of Newark, NJ on July 1, 2026. Luis Quintana (right) was elected as city council president. (City of Newark)

NEWARK, NJ — Ras Baraka was sworn in for his fourth term as mayor of Newark on Wednesday.

Baraka was re-elected by a landslide margin in the city’s nonpartisan municipal election on May 12. He faced a challenge from seven candidates: Debra Salters, Douglas Davis, Jhamar Youngblood, Noble Milton, Tanisha Garner, Nasheedah Singleton, and Sheila Montague.

Watch video footage of the swearing-in ceremony here.

“The election is over and it’s time to govern,” Baraka told attendees.

“I welcome all of you that voted for me – and those that did not – to join us… help us in any capacity that you can in this troubling period we are in… to face the enormity of our challenges and the obstacles that have always been placed before us,” the mayor said.

“Each time we have an inauguration, there’s an opportunity to start all over again, to continue forward, to decide to pivot, start anew,” Baraka added.

CITY COUNCIL

City council members also took their oaths of office during an inauguration ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Several incumbents on the council successfully defended their seats in the election: Luis Quintana, C. Lawrence Crump and Louise Scott-Rountree (at-large), Anibal Ramos Jr. (North Ward), Michael Silva (East Ward), Dupre Kelly (West Ward) and Amina Bey (Central Ward).

Meanwhile, a new challenger – Donna Jackson – captured Carlos Gonzalez’s former at-large seat on the dais.

A runoff election took place in the South Ward between Patrick Council and Asia Norton, with Council emerging victorious.

Immediately following the inauguration ceremony, the Newark Municipal Council convened its organization meeting to choose a council president – with Quintana earning election to the position.

“Thank you so much to the city I love,” he told attendees during an emotion-laden acceptance speech.

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.