This story is part of our Hard Look series, revisiting pivotal moments in the political careers of leaders aspiring to higher office. With Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop entering the 2025 governor’s race, we’re examining the controversies that defined his tenure—delving into the decisions, allegations, and unresolved issues that could shape his campaign and New Jersey’s future. From his ties to Jared Kushner to allegations of his own “Bridgegate,” we take a Hard Look at Mayor Steven Fulop.
As Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop launches his 2025 campaign for governor, past controversies are resurfacing, prompting renewed scrutiny of his record. Allegations from his tenure as mayor, including claims of orchestrating traffic disruptions and attempting to steer city contracts, are raising questions about his leadership style and ethics.
In 2013, then-Police Chief Robert Cowan accused Fulop of ordering traffic stops near the Holland Tunnel to create gridlock, allegedly as retaliation against the Port Authority during a $400 million lawsuit over unpaid taxes. Cowan claimed the stops were illegal and ultimately canceled the operation after it caused hours of congestion at the Port Jersey Global Container Terminal. Fulop denied the allegations, framing them as baseless claims from a disgruntled employee upset over his demotion.
In a grainy, profanity-laced recording from 2014, Fulop’s Chief of Staff Muhammed Akil and political ally Shawn “Sully” Thomas appear to discuss steering a city energy contract to a preferred company, Good Energy. The recording, reportedly left on the voicemail of a city administrator, includes conversations about manipulating the selection process and offering incentives to sway a committee member.
The tape, which Fulop said he reported to authorities, led to the cancellation of the bid. However, neither Akil nor Thomas faced disciplinary action, with Akil remaining as Chief of Staff for nearly a year after the recording surfaced. Critics have pointed to the incident as evidence of a political culture that contradicts Fulop’s reformer image.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s ties to the Kushner family came under scrutiny following revelations about political donations linked to their business dealings. According to a Bloomberg report, Charles and Jared Kushner, along with KABR Group, contributed $100,000 to Progressive New Jersey Inc., a non-profit that later directed $400,000 to Coalition for Progress, a super PAC associated with Fulop’s anticipated gubernatorial run. Although the donation was refunded in 2016 amid media and public scrutiny over transparency issues, the timing raised questions, as it coincided with negotiations between the Fulop administration and the Kushners over potential subsidies for their city projects. While a city spokeswoman denied any financial support from the Kushners and maintained that subsidy requests had adhered to city policy, the overlap of political contributions and development deals continued to cast a shadow over Fulop’s political trajectory.
Fulop unexpectedly declined to run for governor in 2017, a decision many speculate was influenced by the fallout from these controversies. Now, as he seeks the state’s highest office, these incidents are being revisited, with lawsuits still pending over the release of the 2014 recording.
Whether these past controversies will impact his run for governor remains to be seen, but they are certain to be a topic of debate as the campaign unfolds.
