Mayor Khairullah Considering Primary Challenge in CD-9 – Insider NJ

Mayor Khairullah Considering Primary Challenge in CD-9 - Insider NJ

Prospect Park Mayor Khairullah is poised to run in the Democratic Primary in CD-9, sources tell InsiderNJ.

That’s the district occupied by veteran U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9).

A source told InsiderNJ that Khairullah is bothered by the sitting congressman’s handling of the Middle East crisis.

There’s other history here, too.

Khairullah doesn’t like the Biden White House.

From NPR:

“The White House organized a belated celebration for Eid al-Fitar earlier this week and invited hundreds of prominent American Muslims. Then, it uninvited one of them: Mohamed Khairullah, the mayor of Prospect Park, N.J. He’s the longest serving Muslim mayor in this country, and he was given no explanation as to why.

“Khairullah told NPR’s Leila Fadel on Morning Edition that he contacted the Council on American Islamic Relations shortly after he was disinvited to the event. The council informed him that he was on a “secret list,” which was leaked earlier this year.

“I was added to the list in 2019, which put things together in my mind because all my traveling difficulties started in 2019,” Khairullah said. “So it’s at this point, for some reason, I am on a secret list that the government is denying exists and it’s caused me and my family trouble.”

Insiders will be tuned into tonight’s Bergen County Democratic Convention tonight for obvious up-ballot reasons, specifically the ongoing Democratic Primary battle for U.S. Senate between Tammy Murphy and Andy Kim.

They’ll be watching for Khairullah, too, the intrigue deepening not only because of the potential for the mayor to bracket with the off-the-line statewide candidate in Bergen, but in neighboring Passaic, where a conflagration of sheriff’s office candidates – among them former Sheriff Jerry Speziale – plays havoc with establishment expectations.

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Mayor Mohamed Khairullah of Prospect Park, New Jersey is reportedly considering a primary challenge in the upcoming election for New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District. This news comes as a surprise to many, as Khairullah has been a prominent figure in local politics for years and has not previously expressed interest in running for higher office.

Khairullah, who has served as mayor of Prospect Park since 2005, is known for his progressive policies and advocacy for immigrant rights. He has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s immigration policies and has worked to make Prospect Park a welcoming community for all residents.

If Khairullah decides to enter the race for the 9th Congressional District, he will be challenging incumbent Congressman Bill Pascrell, who has held the seat since 1997. Pascrell is a veteran lawmaker with a strong record of fighting for working families and progressive causes.

It remains to be seen how Khairullah’s potential candidacy will impact the race in CD-9. Some political observers believe that his entry into the race could energize progressive voters and bring new ideas to the table. Others are skeptical of his chances against a seasoned incumbent like Pascrell.

Regardless of the outcome, Mayor Khairullah’s potential run for Congress is sure to shake up the political landscape in New Jersey’s 9th District. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.