Republicans scramble for Webber’s Assembly seat as Democrats mull options

The world is moving fast in New Jersey’s 26th legislative district, where the retirement of six-term State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montville) has set off a political scramble for two legislative seats.

Within minutes of Pennacchio’s announcement, ten-term Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) entered the Senate race, and Assembly Minority Whip Brian Bergen (R-Denville) quickly ruled out a Senate bid, keeping his attention on a possible 2029 run for governor.

That leaves Webber’s Assembly seat open, and Republican insiders already have a long list of potential candidates.

Among them are Morris County Commissioners Deborah Smith and Stephen Shaw; Montville Mayor Matt Kayne; former Parsippany Mayor James Barberio; Hanover Mayor Ace Gallagher; East Hanover Councilwoman Carolyn Jandoli; Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor; Parsippany Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr.; Pequannock Councilman David Kohle; Pompton Lakes Councilman Ekamon Venin; former Parsippany Councilmen Justin Musella and Robert Peluso; former Mountain Lakes Councilwoman Audrey Lane; New Jersey Republican State Committee Executive Director Luke Ferrantel and former Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-Parsippany).

Morris County Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo is another possibility. He lost badly to Pennacchio in a 2023 Republican Senate primary after losing a 2021 Assembly primary. Mastrangelo could also make another bid for the Senate seat.

Passaic County Republican Chairman Peter Murphy wasted little time endorsing Webber for Senate, telling the New Jersey Globe that the seat is “Webber’s to win.”

Democrats, meanwhile, were caught off guard by Pennacchio’s retirement and have begun looking for candidates for both Senate and Assembly.

Names being discussed include former Parsippany Mayor Michael Soriano; Mountain Lakes Councilwoman Lauren Barnett, a former Assembly candidate; and Montville Democratic Municipal Chair Shari Seffer, who came within 415 votes of winning a Township Committee seat last week in a heavily Republican municipality.

The 26th district, long a Republican stronghold, has become increasingly competitive, giving Democrats reason to take a closer look at the newly open seats.