Ravinder Singh Bhalla (born May 10, 1973),https://www.instagram.com/p/DZkqX5oRj9f/Tran, Claire (July 19, 2017). "Asian America New Jersey's First Sikh Elected Official Looks to 'Uplift' Community in Mayoral Bid". NBC News. often simply called Ravi Bhalla, is an American civil rights lawyer and politician, who served as the 39th Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, between 2018 and 2026, and represents the 32nd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly.
Prior to becoming mayor, he served on the Hoboken City Council from 2009 to 2018. In 2017, he was elected as New Jersey's first Sikh mayor."Ravinder Bhalla becomes first Sikh mayor of Hoboken city in US". Times of India. November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
A Democrat, Bhalla was a candidate for New Jersey's 8th congressional district in the 2024 election. In the November 2025 general election, Bhalla was elected to represent the 32nd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly.
Early life Ravinder Singh Bhalla was born in Passaic, New Jersey,Sohrabji, Sunita (April 3, 2009). "Ravinder Bhalla Runs for Hoboken City Council". India-West (San Leandro, California). p. A26. and raised in Woodland Park (then called West Paterson.)Lehrer, Brian (November 10, 2017). "New Leaders in New Jersey". The Brian Lehrer Show. WNYC. Retrieved November 10, 2017. His parents, Ranbir and Harminder Singh, live in Montville, New Jersey, where they own and manage a company that manufactures high-pressure sodium street lamps that Ranbir Singh, a physicist, invented himself.Sohrabji, Sunita (June 26, 2009). "Hoboken Gets First Sikh City Councilman". India-West (San Leandro, California). p. A29.
Bhalla earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, a master's degree in public administration and public policy from the London School of Economics, and a juris doctor from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans."About Ravi". Ravi Bhalla for Hoboken Mayor. 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
Career Legal practice
Bhalla was a civil rights attorney at the law firm of Florio, Perrucci, Steinhardt & Fader, who have represented NJ Transit."Attorneys". Florio, Perrucci, Steinhardt & Fader, LLC. Retrieved November 10, 2017.Venugopal, Arun. "Community concerns discussed at SAALT talks". India Abroad (New York, New York). April 15, 2005. p. C6.
In a 2002 case, Bhalla represented three high school students at Hunterdon Central High School in Flemington, New Jersey. The high school had implemented a policy of random drug-testing of students participating in any extracurricular activities or who have a parking permit, and the three students filed a lawsuit in New Jersey State Court alleging the school's drug-testing policy violated their rights according to the New Jersey Constitution.Slack, Donovan (June 28, 2002). "Experts: Garden State case may carry more weight". The Times (Trenton, New Jersey). p. A1. The New Jersey state court ruled that the random drug-testing was allowable under the state constitution, pointing to a similar case ruling by a federal court. Bhalla said he disagreed with the state court's ruling, saying that the New Jersey Constitution gives a wider protection against unreasonable search and seizure than the United States Constitution.Reilly, Matthew. "School wins drug-test appeal: Expanded Hunterdon Central program called no denial of rights". The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey). August 13, 2002. p. 1.
In a case in 2003, Bhalla represented Amric Singh Rathour. Rathour had qualified for a job in traffic enforcement with the New York Police Department. Rathour's supervisors fired Rathour because he would not shave his beard or stop wearing his turban, both of which are required by Rathour's religion, Sikhism. On behalf of his client, Bhalla filed a lawsuit in United States District Court for religious discrimination."Sikh alleges discrimination by NYPD". The Statesman (India). March 5, 2003.
Bhalla wrote an amicus curae for the federal court case of married couple Harpal Singh Cheema and Rajwinder Kaur. Cheema had been brutally and repeatedly tortured by Indian police for protesting the Indian government and for giving food and shelter to Khalistani separatist protesters in India. Cheema and Kaur had been allowed to enter the U.S. for humanitarian reasons. Their asylum application was later disapproved, and they were trying to fight that decision so they could remain in the U.S."Cheema and Kaur v. Immigration and Naturalization Service". United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. via findlaw.com. December 1, 2003. Retrieved November 14, 2017.Taiara, Camille T. (August 7, 2006). "Harpal Singh Cheema Chose "Voluntary" Deportation". New America Media. The Sikh Times. Retrieved November 14, 2017. Cheema lost his appeal and was deported to India, where he was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi."Khalistani arrested". The Statesman. May 3, 2006.
In another case, Bhalla represented Gurpreet S. Kherha. A car dealership in Little Falls, New Jersey, refused to employ Kherha because of its policy of prohibiting beards. Kherha's religion, Sikhism, forbids him from shaving his beard. Bhalla filed a religious discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a lawsuit in New Jersey State Court, stating that the car dealership had violated Kherha's civil rights by refusing him reasonable religious accommodation. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission determined that Kherha had indeed suffered religious discrimination, and the parties settled the case.Joseph, George (December 6, 2013). "Sikh man gets $50,000 damages in religious discrimination case". India Abroad (New York, New York). p. A10.
Politics Bhalla ran for an at-large seat on the Hoboken City Council in 2009 on Mayoral candidate and then-Councilwoman Dawn Zimmer's ticket. During Bhalla's campaign, he emphasized fiscal responsibility, slowing down development, increasing the amount of affordable housing, lower city property taxes, and transparency in government. In the election, Bhalla received 13% of the vote, advancing to a runoff election. In the runoff election, Bhalla received 17% of the vote, winning an at-large seat on the Hoboken City Council for a four-year term in office. He was sworn in on July 1, 2009.Baldwin, Carly (July 1, 2009). "Hoboken". The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, New Jersey). p. A4.
Bhalla served as the chairman of the Hoboken Democratic Party from 2010 to 2011. He also served as vice president of the council between 2010 and 2011, and he served as president of the city council from 2011 to 2012.Joseph, George (November 15, 2013), but lost subsequent re-election attempts for city counsel president. "Hoboken Councilman Ravinder Bhalla to sue colleague Beth Mason". India Abroad (New York, New York). p. A8.
In 2011, Bhalla ran to represent the 33rd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly. During his campaign, Bhalla emphasized that New Jersey had the highest property taxes in the country, and he advocated for lowering property taxes, offset by an increase to state income taxes. Bhalla focused on creating jobs and strengthening New Jersey's hate crime laws. Bhalla opposed New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's $1.3-billion cuts in the state's education budget. Bhalla called himself an Independent Democrat.Sohrabji, Sunita (May 27, 2011). "Hoboken City Councilman Bhalla Runs for State Assembly". India-West (San Leandro, California). p. A10. Bhalla was defeated in the Democratic primary election, coming in third place, but he has stated that he still has political aspirations to be a legislator at the state or Federal level.Sohrabji, Sunita (June 17, 2011). "Ravinder Bhalla Loses Bid for New Jersey Assembly Seat". India-West (San Leandro, California). p. A10, A12.
In 2012, following Superstorm Sandy, Bhalla distributed food to people at multiple locations in Hoboken.Sohrabji, Sunita (November 9, 2012). "Superstorm Sandy Decimates Homes, Businesses in Its Path". India-West (San Leandro, California). p. A2, A4.
Bhalla filed to run again to represent the 33rd District in the New Jersey General Assembly in 2013.Hack, Charles (April 24, 2013). "Hoboken Councilman Bhalla confirms run for state Assembly". The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, New Jersey). nj.com. The following month, Bhalla withdrew from the election when Carmelo Garcia's candidacy was cleared.Hack, Charles (May 8, 2013). "Councilman Ravi Bhalla withdrwaws from Assembly race citing state Supreme Court ruling". The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, New Jersey). nj.com. Instead Bhalla ran for reelection to the Hoboken City Council."Ravi Bhalla Runs for Reelection to Hoboken, N.J., Council". India-West (San Leandro, California). October 18, 2013. p. A18. Bhalla received 14% of the vote, giving him a second four-year term in office.Dutt, Ela (November 15, 2013). "New Jersey Assemblyman Re-elected for a 7th Term". News India-Times (New York, New York). p. 6–7.
Mayor of Hoboken
In 2017, Bhalla decided to run for a third term on the Hoboken City Council."Hoboken Councilman Bhalla Raises Funds for Third Term". India-West (San Leandro, California). April 21, 2017. p. A22. When incumbent Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer decided not to run for reelection, she endorsed Bhalla in a surprise press conference.Sohrabi, Sunita (July 14, 2017). "An Unexpected Run for Hoboken Mayor". India-West (San Leandro, California). p. A3, A14. During Bhalla's mayoral campaign, he advocated for response development, open-space initiatives, defending Hoboken's citizens' rights from the Trump administration, fiscal responsibility, holding the line on local taxes, and building a surplus for unanticipated city emergencies."Indian-American Councilman Running For Mayor Of Hoboken, New Jersey". News India-Times (New York, New York). June 30, 2017. p. 8. On November 7, 2017, he was elected New Jersey's first Sikh mayor.Baer, Marilyn (October 22, 2017). "Profiles: Three of six mayoral candidates: Get to know Bhalla, Giattino, and Bautista ". The Hudson Reporter. October 22, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.Park, Madison (November 8, 2017). "Election night brings historic wins for minority and LGBT candidates". CNN. November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017."Trans politician and Sikh mayor among diverse politicians chosen in US elections". BBC News. November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017. Bhalla won the election with 33% of the vote. His term of office began January 1, 2018."Hoboken Mayor Bhalla takes oath of office, designates Hoboken a 'welcoming city'". The Hudson Reporter. January 1, 2018.
In 2018, Bhalla was censured by the New Jersey Supreme Court after a disciplinary board chided him for not setting aside over $6,000 for a former employee's retirement account between 2008 and 2009.
In 2021 Bhalla ran unopposed for a second term, which he won in November 2021.
As mayor of Hoboken, Bhalla has prioritized pedestrian and transportation safety. He announced a Vision Zero plan in 2019 and has spearheaded changes to Hoboken's streets and transportation policies. Bhalla welcomed Citi Bike to Hoboken, lowered the citywide speed limit to 20 miles per hour, made crosswalks more visible, installed more curb extensions, and increased the amount of bike lanes in Hoboken. Since then, there have been no traffic fatalities in Hoboken and the number of injuries have declined by 41%.
2020 allegations of misconduct