Mussab Ali (born 1997) is a Pakistani-American educator, activist, and politician. In 2017, he was the youngest person elected to the Jersey City Board of Education from January 9, 2018, to January 5, 2022, and later became its president from January 6, 2021, until the end of his term.[1]
Mussab Ali was born in Lahore, Pakistan, and moved with his family to Jersey City, New Jersey, in January, 2000.[2] His mother taught in local schools, and his father worked as a postal worker.[3] Ali's parents experienced discrimination, harassment, and job loss which motivated his interest in civil rights.[4]Mussab went to the Mohandas K. Gandhi Elementary School and the Academy 1 Middle School.[5] Ali graduated from McNair Academic High School[6] and earned dual bachelor's degrees in economics and biology from Rutgers University in 2019, where he was named a Harry S. Truman Scholar in 2017.[4][7]
In November 2017, he won an at-large seat at the Jersey City Board of Education by less than 60 votes[11] for a one-year unexpired term, thereby becoming the youngest elected official in Jersey City history and, at the time, the youngest Muslim elected official in America.[12][13][8] He received an official endorsement from the Jersey City Education Association.[7] In November 2018, he was re-elected, garnering nearly 23,000 votes.[14]
In April 2021, as president of the Jersey City Board of Education, Ali publicly condemned a teacher's racist and profane remarks toward Black students, calling the behavior "completely unacceptable" and supporting the student who recorded the incident.
While serving as Jersey City Board of Education president, Ali announced in March 2021 that he had been diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma and would continue working during treatment;[15] in August 2021, he said he was in complete remission.[16]
During the campaign, Ali emphasized affordability, public transit, and ethics reforms, including proposals to expand affordable housing, improve local bus service, and tighten anti-corruption rules.[20][21][22] His campaign has often been compared with that of Zohran Mamdani from across the Hudson River.[23]
Ali participated in a number of forums and televised interviews, including an October 2025 NJPBS “Chat Box” program with fellow candidates James Solomon and Bill O’Dea,[24] as well as issue-oriented events hosted by local advocacy groups.[25] In late October, his campaign reported third-quarter fundraising of about $244,000 with roughly $250,000 cash on hand, according to filings summarized by Hudson County View.[26]
He received support from several progressive elected officials and organizations, including endorsements from U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar and Ro Khanna,[27][28] and from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.[29] Additional institutional support included endorsements by People for the American Way, Run for Something, and New American Leaders Action Fund.[30]
The 2025 race drew seven candidates vying to succeed outgoing mayor Steven Fulop; if no candidate won a majority on November 4, a December 2 runoff was scheduled under city rules.[31][32] Ali would be eliminated from the race in the November 4, 2025 general election after coming in fourth place.[33][34]
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