Ras Baraka

Ras Baraka
Born	Ras Jua Baraka 9 4, 1970
Birthplace	Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, educator, author
Title	Mayor of Newark
Known for	40th Mayor of Newark, New Jersey

Ras Jua Baraka (born April 9, 1970) is an American politician, educator, author, and poet who has served as the 40th mayor of Newark, New Jersey, since July 1, 2014. A member of the Democratic Party, Baraka was first elected in the 2014 mayoral election and subsequently reelected in 2018 and 2022. Before entering electoral politics, Baraka spent years as a public school educator, ultimately serving as principal of Newark's Central High School, an experience that shaped his political identity and his advocacy for local control of public education. He also served on the Newark Municipal Council, representing both an at-large district and the South Ward. Born into a prominent family of activists and writers in Newark — his father was the poet and playwright Amiri Baraka and his mother was the poet Amina Baraka — Ras Baraka has combined the traditions of community organizing, literary expression, and progressive urban politics throughout his career. In 2025, Baraka sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of New Jersey but lost in the primary to Mikie Sherrill. His tenure as mayor has been marked by efforts to address public safety, education reform, and, more recently, high-profile confrontations with federal immigration enforcement authorities.

Early Life

Ras Jua Baraka was born on April 9, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey. He grew up in a household steeped in political activism and the arts. His father, Amiri Baraka (born LeRoi Jones), was one of the most influential African-American poets, playwrights, and political activists of the 20th century, a central figure in the Black Arts Movement and a longtime force in Newark politics. His mother, Amina Baraka, was also a poet and activist. The environment in which Baraka was raised exposed him early to the intersection of culture, race, and political power in urban America.

Growing up in Newark during the 1970s and 1980s, Baraka witnessed the city's struggles with deindustrialization, poverty, and crime — issues that would later define his political agenda. The Baraka family name carried significant weight in Newark, as Amiri Baraka had been instrumental in the election of Kenneth Gibson as the city's first Black mayor in 1970, the same year Ras was born. This legacy of political engagement provided a foundation for Ras Baraka's own eventual entry into public life.

Baraka developed an early interest in poetry and spoken word, following in his parents' literary footsteps. He became recognized as a poet in his own right, performing and publishing works that addressed themes of racial justice, urban life, and community resilience. His participation in the poetry world would continue throughout his career, even as he moved into education and politics.

Education

Baraka attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he was active in student politics and social justice causes. While a student, he gained experience in organizing and advocacy that would inform his later career. He subsequently pursued a career in education, working in the Newark public school system for many years before entering politics full-time.

Career

Education Career

Before entering electoral politics, Baraka built a career in public education in Newark. He worked as an educator in the city's school system and rose to become the principal of Central High School, one of Newark's large public high schools. His tenure at Central High placed him at the center of debates over education policy in Newark, particularly regarding the role of charter schools, state control of the school district, and funding equity.

As an education advocate, Baraka was vocal in declaring the state school funding system "broken" and was critical of the expansion of charter schools in Newark, arguing that they siphoned resources from traditional public schools. He also championed school desegregation efforts. His work as a principal gave him a firsthand perspective on the challenges facing urban public education and became a central element of his political identity. His experience in the schools also earned him visibility and credibility among Newark residents, particularly parents and community members who were skeptical of top-down education reform efforts led by state officials and outside philanthropists.

Baraka's role at Central High School was notably featured in the Sundance Channel documentary series Brick City, which chronicled life in Newark and included coverage of his work as a school principal navigating the complexities of urban education.

Newark Municipal Council

Baraka's entry into elected office came in 2005 when he joined the Newark Municipal Council representing an at-large district, succeeding Donald Kofi Tucker. He served in this capacity from November 2, 2005, until July 1, 2006.

Baraka returned to the Municipal Council in 2010, this time winning election to represent the South Ward. He succeeded Oscar James and served from July 1, 2010, to July 1, 2014, when he assumed the mayoralty. During his time on the council, Baraka continued to be involved in education issues and public safety advocacy, building the political base that would support his mayoral campaign.

2014 Mayoral Campaign

Following the departure of Cory Booker, who was elected to the United States Senate in a 2013 special election, the race to succeed him as mayor of Newark drew significant attention. The interim mayor, Luis A. Quintana, held office during the transition period. Baraka entered the 2014 mayoral race as a candidate who emphasized local control, community empowerment, and opposition to what he characterized as outside interference in Newark's affairs, particularly in education.

Baraka's campaign gained momentum through a series of endorsements from key political figures and labor organizations. Mildred Crump, the president of the Newark Municipal Council, and Ronald Rice, a state senator, endorsed his candidacy. The Communication Workers of America (CWA) announced its endorsement of Baraka in December 2013, adding significant labor backing to his campaign. He also received additional union endorsements, further solidifying his support among organized labor.

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop also endorsed Baraka in the race, lending him support from a prominent neighboring political figure.

Public safety was a central issue in the campaign. In December 2013, following a series of shootings in Newark, Baraka called for a ceasefire and increased police presence in affected neighborhoods. He released a public safety plan outlining his approach to reducing crime in the city.

Education was an equally prominent issue. Baraka ran on a platform of reclaiming local control of Newark's public schools, which had been under state supervision since 1995. His opposition to the school reform agenda — including the expansion of charter schools and a reorganization plan backed by then-Governor Chris Christie and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg's $100 million donation — resonated with many Newark voters who felt excluded from decisions affecting their children's education.

Baraka won the 2014 mayoral election and began assembling a transition team to prepare for his administration. He was sworn into office on July 1, 2014, succeeding Luis A. Quintana as the 40th mayor of Newark.

Tenure as Mayor

Baraka has served as mayor of Newark since July 2014, winning reelection in 2018 and again in 2022. His administration has focused on public safety, education reform, economic development, and, in later years, immigration enforcement policy.

Throughout his tenure, Baraka has continued his advocacy for local control of Newark's public schools. His administration worked toward the return of local control of the school district, which had been under state operation for more than two decades. He has maintained his criticism of the state school funding formula and has been a vocal opponent of what he sees as the negative effects of charter school expansion on traditional public schools in Newark.

Confrontation with Federal Immigration Enforcement

In 2025, Baraka's profile rose nationally following a confrontation with federal immigration authorities. Baraka was arrested at an immigration detention center, an event that drew significant media attention and prompted both praise and criticism across the political spectrum. A federal judge subsequently admonished federal prosecutors over what he called the "hasty arrest" of the mayor, taking the government to task in what observers described as an extraordinary judicial rebuke.

In a profile published by The Guardian, Baraka reflected on the incident and on broader issues of immigration policy under the Trump administration, stating that "history will judge us as cowards or heroes." The profile noted that Baraka had been labeled "too progressive, too Black" by some in the context of the New Jersey governor's race. In the same interview, Baraka discussed the role of poetry in his life and politics.

Mother Jones reported that Baraka sought to capitalize on the momentum generated by his arrest in his bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, positioning himself as an "unapologetically progressive" candidate willing to confront federal authority on behalf of immigrant communities.

2025 Gubernatorial Campaign

In 2025, Baraka sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of New Jersey. His campaign emphasized progressive themes, including education equity, criminal justice reform, and resistance to federal immigration enforcement actions in New Jersey communities. Baraka's arrest at the immigration detention center became a defining moment of his campaign, raising his national profile and energizing supporters. However, he ultimately lost the Democratic primary to Mikie Sherrill, a congresswoman representing a suburban northern New Jersey district.

Continued Political Activity

Following his gubernatorial primary loss, Baraka continued to serve as mayor of Newark and remained active in Democratic politics. In late 2025, he endorsed Congressman Rob Menendez for re-election, citing their working relationship on issues affecting Newark.

Personal Life

Baraka is a member of a prominent Newark family with deep roots in the city's cultural and political history. His father, Amiri Baraka (1934–2014), was one of the most significant African-American literary figures of the 20th century and a major force in Newark politics for decades. His mother, Amina Baraka, is also a published poet and activist. The Baraka family name is associated with the Black Arts Movement, Pan-Africanism, and progressive political organizing in Newark and beyond.

Baraka himself is a published poet and has been featured at poetry events and festivals, including the Dodge Poetry Festival. His literary work reflects themes of urban life, racial justice, and community. He has described poetry as an integral part of his identity, even as his career has been dominated by education and politics.

In September 2025, a Newark police officer filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and abusive behavior against Baraka and other city officials. The case was reported by NJ Spotlight News. As of late 2025, the outcome of the lawsuit had not been publicly resolved.

Recognition

Baraka's role as mayor of New Jersey's largest city and his involvement in national debates over education, public safety, and immigration policy have given him a prominent platform. His arrest at an immigration detention center in 2025 drew national media coverage, including profiles in The Guardian and Mother Jones, and raised his visibility beyond New Jersey.

In September 2025, Baraka was invited to Harvard Law School for a conversation event hosted by several student organizations, including the Harvard Latino/a Students Association, Harvard Law School Democrats, the Black Law Students Association, and the Equal Democracy Project.

He was also selected as the featured speaker at the 22nd annual Fannie Lou Hamer Human and Civil Rights Symposium at Stockton University in October 2025, further reflecting his standing as a figure in contemporary discussions of civil rights and urban governance.

Baraka's work as an educator and principal was featured in the Sundance Channel documentary series Brick City, which followed life in Newark and brought national attention to the challenges and resilience of the city's communities.

His poetry has been recognized through his inclusion in the Dodge Poetry Festival, one of the largest poetry events in North America.

Legacy

As the 40th mayor of Newark, Baraka has served longer than most of his recent predecessors and has been reelected twice, a reflection of his sustained support among Newark voters. His tenure has coincided with a period of significant change for the city, including shifts in education governance, economic development initiatives, and, in 2025, a national confrontation over immigration enforcement.

Baraka's emphasis on local control of public education — particularly his opposition to state oversight and charter school expansion — has positioned him as a representative of a community-centered approach to urban governance that prioritizes the voices of city residents over external reform agendas. His administration's work toward regaining local control of the Newark school district marked a significant milestone in the city's political history.

As the son of Amiri and Amina Baraka, Ras Baraka carries forward a family legacy that links Newark's cultural, literary, and political traditions. His dual identity as a poet and a politician reflects a lineage in which artistic expression and political activism are intertwined. His 2025 gubernatorial campaign, though unsuccessful, tested whether the progressive urban politics he represents could gain traction statewide in New Jersey.

Baraka's arrest during the confrontation with federal immigration authorities in 2025 made him a national figure in the debate over sanctuary cities and local resistance to federal enforcement actions, a role that continued to shape his public profile and speaking engagements well beyond the immediate incident.