Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - James Solomon, Mayor of Jersey City, NJ

2025 is the year for New Jersey elections, both at the state and local levels. In Jersey City, the second largest city in the state, its mayor announced he was stepping down to run for governor, so the office is now open. James Solomon (he/him), a millennial current city councilman, is viewed as one of the most progressive candidates in the race. The Jersey City race can be seen as a smaller parallel of the mayoral race across the Hudson River in New York City: a progressive candidate (Solomon/Zohran Mamdani) running against a former state governor who resigned in disgrace (Jim McGreevey/Andrew Cuomo) looking to make a political comeback.

James, a cancer survivor, is a professor of public policy at New Jersey City University, a public university in Jersey City, and is the father of three girls.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 57.5Andrew FOctober 8, 2025millenial, cancer survivor, father, fatherhood, politician, politics, Politics, #politics, election, #electionComment

Roots and Resonance: Ant Thomaz on Fatherhood, Fusion, and Finding Purpose

Some artists follow trends; others follow truth. In a world that often demands instant output and polished perfection, Ant Thomaz chooses presence, patience, and purpose. From morning meditations with his daughter to the chilled edges of the Irish Sea, his creative process is as deeply personal as it is universal. Rooted in Scotland but echoing with Louisiana soul, Ant’s story unfolds like a song—layered, honest, and impossible to ignore. Want to know what fuels the man behind the music? Read below to find out more.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 57.4Angelina DeSalvoAugust 12, 2025artists, music, fatherhood, father, songs, singer song writer, album, funk, jazz, soul, stage, performanceComment