Ras Baraka

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Ras Jua Baraka (born April 9, 1970) is an American politician, author, and educator who has served as the 40th mayor of Newark, New Jersey, since July 1, 2014. A Democrat, he has been re-elected in 2018 and 2022. Before becoming mayor, he served on Newark’s City Council and was the principal of Central High School.

Baraka grew up in Newark, the son of poet Amiri Baraka and poet/actress Amina Baraka. He attended Newark Public Schools, earned a BA in political science from Howard University, and obtained an MA in education supervision from Saint Peter’s University. He worked as a teacher and later as the principal of Central High School (2007–2013).

As mayor, Baraka has focused on local control of schools, crime reduction, and neighborhood improvement. He promoted a plan called the Ras Baraka Blueprint to Reduce Crime and Violence, started initiatives like Project Chill, and in 2020 created the Office of Violence Prevention & Trauma Recovery. His administration has overseen a long-term trend of lower violence in Newark.

On education, Baraka supported returning more decision-making power to Newark over its public schools, seeking changes to the state-led One Newark plan. In 2014 the state gave Newark local power over budget decisions, while the state still retained some oversight.

Newark faced a major lead-water issue, and Baraka led a large program to replace lead service lines. By 2022 Newark was praised for its lead-line replacement efforts, and the city continued the work through 2024–2025. The administration also managed financial challenges, including state transitional aid with oversight requirements in 2014.

Baraka has faced a few controversies, including a 2017 campaign-finance complaint related to his 2014 mayoral campaign. In 2023 he was involved in a controversial, later-discredited attempt to establish Newark as a sister city with Kailaasa, a self-proclaimed micronation. In May 2025, he was briefly arrested by immigration authorities outside the Delaney Hall facility; the charges were later dropped.

In addition to his political work, Baraka announced a run for governor of New Jersey in 2025, promoting a progressive platform. He finished second in the Democratic primary, losing to Mikie Sherrill. He is married to Linda Jumah since 2019, and they have four children.