Dem Mayor Arrested For Trespassing At Ice Facility Floated As Pick For State's No 2 Office

Despite losing his bid for nan Democratic gubernatorial information past week, progressive Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was precocious arrested extracurricular an ICE installation during a protest, is apt not vanished successful New Jersey politics, according to governmental strategists from some sides of nan aisle.

According to a New Jersey governmental insider, Baraka is apt to moreover beryllium tapped by nan now-Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill for nan lieutenant politician role, nan No. 2 spot successful nan state.

Mayor of Newark since 2014, Baraka has garnered a estimation arsenic a progressive. It was his arrest extracurricular an ICE detention installation successful Newark connected May 9, however, that propelled him to nan nationalist stage.

Baraka revenge a suit against U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba this month, accusing her of "false apprehension and malicious prosecution" successful relationship pinch nan incident.

WHO IS THE DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING AT AN ICE DETENTION CENTER?

Left: Newark Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka speaks extracurricular nan Delaney Hall ICE installation during a protest. Right: Security unit guidelines successful beforehand of Delaney Hall, a precocious reopened migration detention center, successful Newark, N.J., May 7, 2025. (Getty Images | AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

He was 1 of respective nationalist officials, including Democratic Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman, who allegedly rushed past information done nan gates of nan installation pinch a group of protesters, according to officials from nan Department of Homeland Security. 

The U.S. attorney's agency has since dismissed nan lawsuit against Baraka "for nan liking of moving forward." 

Kenny Gonzalez, executive head of nan New Jersey Republican State Committee, told Fox News Digital that "the time that his apprehension happened, [Baraka] really did go a leader of New Jersey's Democrat Party."

Baraka’s run took afloat advantage of nan moment, moreover opening to nonstop fundraising messages to supporters while he was still incarcerated, according to Politico.

Politico newsman Matt Friedman posted a screenshot of a matter connection from Baraka’s run that sounds successful each caps "RAS BARAKA HAS BEEN ARRESTED" and "Ras was astatine Delaney Hall coming demanding introduction into nan ICE detention halfway wherever Trump and MAGA extremists are illegally detaining people." 

The connection went connected to say, "Ras is fresh to do immoderate it takes to extremity Trump and protect New Jerseyans from his utmost agenda. We request you pinch america now much than ever. Donate now." 

ICE BREAKOUT IN NEW JERSEY SYMPTOM OF DEMOCRATIC ‘CHAOS’ ACROSS THE COUNTRY, LOCAL GOP LEADER SAYS

Members of Congress astatine an ICE detention installation successful New Jersey (X/@RepBonnie)

Gonzalez explained that "almost each Democrat elected official, including each of his superior opponents for governor, came retired against what had happened, calling it immoderate benignant of injustice and saying that it was wrong." 

"I do judge that we were correct successful predicting that this stunt would really boost him, and it really did," said Gonzalez.  

He said that though early polling had Baraka successful a distant 3rd place, nan Newark mayor’s performance, coming successful 2nd pinch 20.6% of nan vote, "was really nan large news of nan night."

"Mikie Sherrill spent millions and millions much dollars than he did. So it's nary astonishment that she emerged arsenic nan superior winner. But Ras Baraka was a distant 3rd place, and he came successful second," said Gonzalez. "So nan stunt decidedly boosted him, and I deliberation to this time he remains very, very celebrated among nan Democrat Party."

HOMELAND SECURITY REVEALS IDENTITIES OF THE 4 ‘PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS’ WHO ESCAPED NEWARK ICE FACILITY

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (Deirdre Heavey/Fox News Digital)

"I wouldn't beryllium amazed if Mikie Sherrill picks Ras Baraka to beryllium her lieutenant politician candidate," he said.

"He put up a formidable performance, and he's an African-American leader who has very heavy ties to galore municipality communities," he went on. "Mikie Sherrill couldn't moreover triumph her ain location county. So I deliberation she should astir apt prime personification who did."

Gonzalez is optimistic that Republican gubernatorial campaigner Jack Ciattarelli, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, tin flip nan New Jersey governorship backmost red.

"What Ras Baraka did was he grounded to fulfill his work arsenic politician of Newark … he put forbidden immigrants complete Newark citizens," he said. "There are truthful galore different issues that New Jerseyans face, specified arsenic precocious spot taxes, unsafe neighborhoods, a schoolhouse backing look that hasn't worked successful galore years. So I judge that commonsense voters deliberation that Ras Baraka should person focused his run a small spot much connected that."

US ATTORNEY ALINA HABBA ANNOUNCES REP MCIVER HIT WITH FEDERAL CHARGES OVER NEWARK ICE CLASH

Jack Ciattarelli (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Kevin Hagan, a New Jersey Democratic governmental strategist and advisor, told Fox News Digital that "Baraka surely created a run that not only gained attraction but earned an awesome consequence of votes connected Election Day."

Hagan credited Baraka’s occurrence not to nan Delaney Hall protestation and apprehension but to "his willingness to return connected President Trump and his policies but besides bring to nan forefront issues important to nan Democratic Party connected education, affordability and value of life successful nan state."

Hagan said that based connected really good Baraka ran his campaign, he should "certainly" astatine slightest "be considered arsenic a imaginable candidate."

"But what's important now is nan Sherrill run and nan congresswoman deciding connected who is champion to beryllium her partner, to spot nan campaign's measurement to triumph successful November, but much importantly, a partner to govern successful January," he said.

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On whether Democrats will beryllium capable to propulsion disconnected a triumph successful November, Hagan pointed retired that complete nan past 32 years, New Jersey has been governed for 16 years by a Democrat and 16 years by a Republican.

"So, from a partisan perspective," he said, "Democrats tin return thing for granted successful their effort to support power of nan governor's office."