State Sen. Cunningham Pleads Not Guilty In DWI Case

JERSEY CITY, NJ — State Sen. Sandra Cunningham pleaded not guilty in Zoom court on Thursday morning to driving while intoxicated and careless driving.

The charges go back to a March 4 arrest when Cunningham was arrested on Culver Street in Jersey City after hitting two parked cars. She was charged with driving while intoxicated. Sandra Bolden-Cunningham is a Democrat who has represented New Jersey's 31st legislative district since 2007. She represents Bayonne and most of Jersey City. She is the wife of the late Glenn Cunningham, the first Black mayor of Jersey City, and she ran for office after his death.

The case was held in Bergen County to avoid a conflict of interest in Hudson County.

Police body cam footage of the incident was released on Friday and shows Cunningham unable to complete a field sobriety test and asking officers to bring Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea to the scene.

Linda Schwager, the prosecutor in the case, told the court on Thursday that she still had not received the footage that was published by several outlets.