Steven Fulop

Steven Michael Fulop is an American politician and former United States Marine who has served as the 49th mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, since 1 July 2013.

He was born on 28 February 1977 in Edison or its environs in New Jersey, to Jewish Romanian immigrant parents, and grew up in New Jersey in a middle-class family that stressed education and public service.

Steven Fulop graduated from Binghamton University in 1999, having also spent time studying abroad at Oxford University, and later pursued graduate studies at Columbia University and New York University, building a profile in finance and public policy before entering politics.

After college he joined the investment bank Goldman Sachs, working first in Chicago and later in the firm’s Manhattan and Jersey City offices, focusing on financial services and risk management.

Full Name	Steven Fulop
Other Name	Steven Michael Fulop
Gender	Male
Occupation	Politician
Date of Birth	28-February-1977 (49 years)
Birth Year	1977
Birth Location	Edison, New Jersey, U.S.

On the morning of 11 September 2001 he was working in Lower Manhattan when he witnessed the first plane strike the World Trade Center, an event that he has described as pivotal in his decision to enlist in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

He completed boot camp and was deployed to Iraq in January 2003 with the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, serving as part of the logistics and engineering support elements that moved with Marine forces into Baghdad; he completed his reserve service in 2006 with the rank of corporal.

His political career began at the local level in Jersey City when he was elected in 2005 as the city councilman for Ward E, representing the downtown area.

During his eight years on the council, he gained a reputation as a reform-oriented Democrat, frequently opposing the political establishment of Hudson County and advocating ethics reforms, greater transparency, and neighborhood-focused development.

He also built a base of support among younger professionals and long-time residents concerned about corruption, quality-of-life issues, and the direction of redevelopment along the Hudson River waterfront.

On 14 May 2013, Steven Fulop was elected mayor of Jersey City, defeating incumbent Jerramiah T. Healy with about 53 percent of the vote, and he took office on 1 July 2013.

As mayor he promoted Jersey City as the “best mid-sized city in the country,” pursuing policies aimed at expanding residential construction, attracting businesses, and positioning the city as a rival to Newark as New Jersey’s largest municipality.

His administration merged the Police and Fire Departments and the Office of Emergency Management into a single Department of Public Safety, worked to expand the size and diversity of the police force, and emphasized initiatives in areas such as affordable housing, parks, and education partnerships.

Steven Fulop was re-elected mayor in 2017 with roughly 78 percent of the vote, the largest margin for a Jersey City mayor since the mid-twentieth century, and won a third term in 2021, making him the first mayor since the era of Frank Hague to secure three consecutive terms.

Beyond municipal politics, Steven Fulop has emerged as a prominent figure in New Jersey’s Democratic Party; he announced a campaign for governor in the 2025 election cycle, positioning himself as a candidate with executive experience, military service, and a record of urban redevelopment.