Accountability and Reciprocity
November 4, 2025, is a significant date in the history of New Jersey. On this date, registered voters will be asked to select their legislative representatives, as well as the next governor. Constitutionally, New Jersey’s chief executive is one of the most powerful governors in the United States. In addition to overseeing the departments, agencies, boards, and commissions that make up the executive branch, the governor has the power to sign bills into law and call the legislature into a special session.
Black voters in New Jersey tend to overwhelmingly support the Democratic Party, turning out at rates of 94% and 96%, respectively, in support of the Murphy administration during its two-term maximum. Given this significant level of support for the outgoing administration, it would have been reasonable to expect that addressing the widening economic disparities facing Black New Jerseyans would have been a top priority for both the executive and legislative branches of state government.
However, findings from disparity studies conducted for the State of New Jersey and Essex County show that Black residents are at the bottom in almost all categories of public contract awards. Every public contract is funded by taxpayer dollars; yet, the majority of these awards did not go to Black business owners. According to Essex County’s study, the county’s public contracting spend was over $900 million. However, Black and Hispanic business owners combined received less than 1% of the taxpayer dollars used to fund these contract awards—even though Black and Hispanic residents make up approximately 68% of Essex County’s population.
Similarly, the State of New Jersey’s Disparity Study, which covered a five-year period, revealed the following:
- Black business owners received 13 contracts totaling $3.3 million
- White women business owners received 250 contracts totaling $277 million
- White male business owners received 2,500 contracts totaling $10 billion
It is my opinion that year after year, Black voters support candidates who claim to represent their interests, yet fail to present a clearly defined agenda that would ensure an equitable return for our vote. The data shows that Black communities continue to face the highest rates of poverty and unemployment, the lowest median income, and a stark disparity in homeownership: 40% of Black residents own homes compared to 76% of white residents. Furthermore, the median net worth for Black residents in New Jersey is $17,000, compared to $322,000 for white residents.
Based on this information, I urge the voting population of New Jersey to challenge those seeking office to articulate their platforms—platforms that should substantively address not only economic equity for Black residents, but also education, health care, and homeownership, to name a few. These issues, in my opinion, must be the top priority of the next administration.
Since early 2024, the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) has been in discussions with New Jersey legislators to advance legislation that would address the lack of equitable participation by minority- and women-owned businesses in public contracting, and potentially level the playing field through greater transparency and accountability.
Another critical issue we must address in our state is the use of education, occupation, and credit scoring as proxies for determining insurance premiums. These policies, among others, are matters on which New Jersey voters must demand clear, definitive responses from any candidate seeking the support of Black voters in the November 4th election.
I urge you not to allow candidates to divert your attention to national issues out of Washington, D.C., when the socio-economic disparities plaguing Black communities here in New Jersey have been systemically harmful—and remain unresolved.
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
