The Jersey City mayoral election of 2001 was held on May 8, 2001. The mayor is popularly elected in a nonpartisangeneral election. The incumbent Mayor of Jersey City, Bret Schundler, did not run for re-election.
A runoff held on June 5, 2001. Glenn Cunningham was elected, becoming the first African-American mayor of Jersey City.[1] His opponent in the run-off was Thomas A. DeGise,[2] who later became Hudson County Executive.[3][4][5] It was one of the most expensive local races in New Jersey history.[6]
Cunningham died in office before completing his term.[1][7]
Gerald McCann, who had served two non-consecutive terms as Mayor of Jersey City before being convicted of fraud in a savings-and-loan scam, attempted to file a petition to run but was barred from doing so.[9]