Stephenine Dixon Hired by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to Lead South Jersey Outreach

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka’s campaign for New Jersey governor is expanding with the hiring of Stephenine Dixon as South Jersey’s regional political director.

The campaign announced her appointment in a press release on Friday, describing her political organizing background and long-standing connections to the region.

With Dixon joining the team, Baraka focuses on expanding his influence in South Jersey, a region that will be a big factor in the election.

Dixon, who is from South Jersey, has been involved in multiple Democratic campaigns across the country.

In 2020, she worked as regional organizing director in Iowa for Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign before becoming his Alabama state director.

That same year, she was deputy Get Out the Vote director in Georgia for the Biden-Harris campaign, helping to mobilize voters in a competitive state.

Earlier, in 2018, she worked on Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial campaign in Georgia as a regional director, leading outreach efforts.

Now, Dixon is returning to New Jersey to help Baraka connect with voters in South Jersey.

This region, which includes counties such as Camden, Gloucester, Burlington, Atlantic, Cumberland, Salem, and Cape May, has a range of political leanings, with some areas favoring Democrats and others leaning more Republican.

Thus, Baraka’s campaign must focus heavily on voter outreach and engagement to gain traction.

Baraka, who has served as Newark’s mayor since 2014, has gained national attention for his policies on public safety, economic development, and social justice.

Under his leadership, Newark’s crime rate dropped to its lowest level in 50 years, a major change for a city that has long struggled with violence.

He also led the effort to restore local control of Newark’s public schools in 2018 after 22 years of state oversight, giving local officials and educators more authority over decisions affecting students.

Another major initiative under Baraka’s leadership was Newark’s response to the lead water crisis.

His administration replaced all 23,000 known lead service lines in less than three years, providing the service at no cost to residents.

This response was one of the fastest and most effective in the country, as many other cities dealing with lead contamination have faced years of delays and financial hurdles.

Beyond public safety and infrastructure, Baraka has worked on economic programs to support Newark residents.

He created Hire. Buy. Live. Newark, a program that connects residents with jobs, encourages businesses to hire locally, and expands access to affordable housing.

In addition, he launched LinkNWK, a system of sidewalk kiosks that provide free public Wi-Fi, phone calls, and access to city services.

Newark has also expanded broadband and Wi-Fi coverage to parks and community centers to make internet access more accessible and affordable for residents.

In addition to his work as mayor, Baraka holds several leadership roles at the state and national levels.

He is President of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association and a member of the Executive Board of the New Jersey League of Municipalities.

Nationally, he co-chairs the National League of Cities Reimagining Public Safety Task Force and serves as Vice Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Ports, Transportation, and Communications Committee.

He is also a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee, where he provides input on policies that affect urban areas.

As Baraka pushes forward in his bid for governorship, he is focused on gaining more support across New Jersey.

While he has strong backing in North Jersey, particularly Newark, he must expand his base in suburban and rural areas to win the Democratic nomination.

And Dixon’s leadership in South Jersey will help make that happen.

With her experience in voter outreach and political organizing, she will focus on reaching South Jersey communities and increasing engagement in areas where Baraka is less well-known.

Dixon stated in the campaign’s press release that she has dedicated her career to strengthening often overlooked communities.

She also expressed that Baraka’s campaign aligns with her vision for fairness, justice, and opportunity.

Now that she is leading the South Jersey effort, her job will be to increase voter awareness and expand Baraka’s influence in the region.

The campaign has not yet announced specific events or outreach plans under her leadership, but given her experience, she will likely be a strong influence on shaping the campaign’s direction in the near future.