Former Governor of New Jersey (2002–2004)
James E. McGreevey served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 2002 until his resignation in November 2004. He was the first openly gay governor in United States history. His resignation followed disclosure of an extramarital affair with a male staff member and associated corruption allegations involving the appointment of the staffer to a position for which he was unqualified.
Prior to his governorship McGreevey, served as Mayor of Woodbridge Township from 1991 to 2002. He previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly (1990-1992) and State Senate (1994-1998). He won the Democratic nomination for governor in 1997, but lost to Republican Christine Todd Whitman before winning the office in 2001.
Following his resignation, McGreevey entered private life and pursued religious studies. He earned a Master of Arts in psychology from Drew University in 2018, and was ordained as an Episcopal priest in November 2020. He later returned to public service in 2013 as Executive Director of the Jersey City Employment and Training Program.
In 2021 McGreevey ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Jersey City, losing to incumbent Steven Fulop. He announced his candidacy for the 2025 Jersey City mayoral election, losing to James Solomon.
• Member New Jersey General Assembly (1990–1992)
• Mayor Woodbridge Township (1991–2002)
• Member New Jersey Senate (1994–1998)
• Governor of New Jersey (2002–2004)
• Candidate for Mayor of Jersey City (2021, 2025)
• Workforce development and job training
• Urban redevelopment and transit-oriented development
• LGBTQ+ rights and anti-discrimination policy
• Education funding and school construction
• Homeland security and emergency preparedness
• Criminal justice reform and re-entry programs
• Resigned governorship August 2004 following disclosure of affair and corruption allegations, stating "I am a gay American" in nationally televised address
• Implemented New Jersey's first domestic partnership law for same-sex couples (2004)
• Ordained as Episcopal priest November 2020 after completing theological studies
• Ran for Jersey City mayor in 2021 on platform of workforce development and public safety reform
• Ran for Jersey City mayor again in 2025
• Bachelor of Arts, Catholic University of America (Washington, DC), 1978
• Juris Doctor, Georgetown University Law Center (Washington, DC), 1981
• Master of Arts in Psychology, Drew University (Madison, NJ), 2018
• Birth date: August 6, 1957
• Residence: Jersey City, New Jersey
• Occupation: Executive Director, Jersey City Employment and Training Program
Democratic Party
