Ravinder "Ravi" Singh Bhalla is a civil rights attorney and politician who has represented the 32nd Legislative District since January 2026. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Bhalla served as the 39th Mayor of Hoboken from 2018 to 2026, becoming the first Sikh American to serve as mayor of a New Jersey municipality. Before his mayoral tenure, he served on the Hoboken City Council from 2009 to 2018.

Born in Passaic and raised in Woodland Park, Bhalla pursued a career in civil rights law after earning his juris doctor, focusing on discrimination cases and religious liberty issues. He gained national prominence during his mayoral tenure for implementing Vision Zero traffic safety policies that eliminated traffic fatalities in Hoboken. He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for New Jersey's 8th congressional district in 2024 before winning election to the State Assembly.

Political Career

• Member, Hoboken City Council (2009–2018)
• Mayor, City of Hoboken (January 1, 2018–January 13, 2026)
• Candidate, Democratic primary for NJ-8th Congressional District (2024, unsuccessful)
• Member, New Jersey General Assembly, District 32 (January 13, 2026–present)
• Deputy Conference Leader, New Jersey General Assembly (2026–present)

Key Policy Areas

• Transportation safety and Vision Zero initiatives
• Climate action and environmental innovation
• Housing affordability and tenant protections
• Immigration enforcement limitations and sanctuary policies
• Civil rights and religious liberty

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• As Mayor of Hoboken, implemented Vision Zero plan that eliminated traffic fatalities and reduced injuries by 41% through speed limit reductions, bike lane expansion, and pedestrian safety measures
• Established the first municipal Department of Climate Action and Innovation in New Jersey
• Co-sponsored legislation (A-4302, 2026) imposing lifetime employment restrictions on former ICE agents who served during specific federal administration periods
• Achieved 100% score from Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ policies during mayoral tenure
• Served as lead counsel in significant civil rights cases involving religious discrimination and immigration enforcement

Education

• University of California, Berkeley – Bachelor of Science in Political Psychology
• London School of Economics and Political Science – Master of Public Administration and Public Policy
• Tulane University Law School – Juris Doctor (1999)

Personal

• Birth date: May 10, 1973
• Residence: Hoboken, New Jersey