Ending speculation that he will challenge Rep. Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon) in the Democratic primary for Congress, Andre Sayegh will seek re-election to a third term as mayor of Paterson next year, the New Jersey Globe has learned.
Sayegh is set to make his announcement within the next two weeks.
He is expected to face two city councilmen, Michael Jackson and Luis Velez, as well as former Councilman Mohammed Aktaruzzaman.
Two other city council members, Maritza Davila and Lilisa Mimms, are unlikely to join the mayoral race and could wind up seeking new terms on Sayegh’s slate.
Paterson elects its local officials in a May 2026 non-partisan municipal election with no runoffs.
The move gives Pou a clear path to her party’s nomination, and bolsters her effort to win a second term in New Jersey’s 9th district in 2026.
Pou captured the seat following the death of Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-Paterson) in 2024; Donald Trump won the 9th by one point, and Pou defeated Republican Billy Prempeh by five points. But gains made by Republicans last year were reversed in the November 2025 general election, with Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill winning Pou’s district by nineteen points. Two Republicans, Prempeh and Clifton Councilwoman Rosie Pino, are currently running to unseat her.
Sayegh became Paterson’s first Arab American in 2018, defeating Councilman Alex Mendez by a 41%-21% margin in a six-candidate field. He won a rematch against Mendez in 2022 by a 48%-27% margin in a five-candidate race.
He had nearly $200,000 in his campaign warchest as of October 31. Jackson remains under indictment on election fraud charges related to his 2020 city council campaign.
Sayegh briefly ran for Congress last year after Pascrell died, and had considered running against Pascrell himself (before the congressman’s death) but decided against it.
In August, Sayegh sharply criticized Pou for not doing enough after a water main break in Paterson.
Sayegh was an early supporter of Rep. Mikie Sherrill for the Democratic nomination for governor.
