Excellence Starts at Home—
And My Home Is Trenton
I’m Austin Edwards, and Trenton is my home.
I was born here, raised here, and now I’m fighting to make sure every child in Trenton can rise to excellence.
I was born on Rutherford Avenue and raised by a family that believed in hard work, service, and showing up for people—even in the hardest times. When we lost everything in the housing crisis, I watched my parents rebuild with grit and grace, all while helping others who had it even worse. That experience shaped my belief in what it means to be part of a real community—where we show up for each other, where we pursue excellence not just for ourselves, but for all of us.
I’ve walked the same streets our kids walk today. I’ve seen the power of a good education—and the harm when that system fails. And I’ve been lucky to learn from the best: earning my degrees from Howard and Princeton, serving in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, and working every day to make sure government serves the people, not the other way around.
But my proudest titles aren’t on a resume. They’re: father, neighbor, school board member, community servant. Whether leading Trenton’s NAACP chapter, helping expunge records so folks can get a second chance, or fighting for afterschool programs and teacher support, I’ve always stayed rooted in one goal:
bringing people together to build ONE Trenton, united by a shared standard of excellence.
I’m running because I believe our city deserves leadership that not only demands excellence—but delivers it. I’m running for the kids still trying to catch up after COVID, for the parents working long hours who still show up to help with homework, and for the teachers who give their all with too little support.
I know Trenton because I’ve lived it. I believe in Trenton because I’m raising my daughter here. And I’m fighting for Trenton because we are ONE city—and when we move as one, we can achieve more than anyone thought possible.
