Democrats flip GOP-held Assembly seats in LD21

Democrats flipped a pair of Republican-held Assembly seats in the 21st legislative district, the New Jersey Globe projects, continuing a strong night for Democrats up and down the ballot. 

Andrew Macurdy, a former state and federal prosecutor, and Garwood Councilman Vincent Kearney will unseat Assemblywomen Nancy Muñoz (R-Summit) and Michele Matsikoudis (R-New Providence). As of 10:09 p.m., the Democrats are leading the Republicans about 55%-45% in the 21st, which contains swaths of Union, Somerset, Morris, and Middlesex counties.

Muñoz and Matsikoudis, as well as State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), are among the state’s most moderate GOP legislators. Bramnick sought the governorship this year, but his Trump-skeptic Republicanism did not perform well in the GOP primary electorate. Democrats had targeted the 21st as perhaps their best opportunity to pick up two Assembly seats. The district has been trending bluer; Jack Ciattarelli barely squeaked out a victory in 2021, but Kamala Harris won the 21st last fall by more than 12 points.

Assembly Democrats spent millions trying to flip the 21st in 2019, but fell just short, and party leaders largely ignored the district in the two following cycles.

Marcurdy and Kearney ran separate campaigns, contrasting in structure.

Macurdy, an ally of Senator Andy Kim, launched his candidacy in the days after Donald Trump’s victory and raised $94,000 in less than two months. Last year, he hosted canvass launch events from his home for Kim’s campaign, as well as Sue Altman’s congressional campaign, and Kim returned the favor this year in two events. Macurdy has taken after Kim, carving his own lane while holding the Democratic establishment at arm’s length. Macurdy has raised almost $350k during his campaign, most of it from individual donors.

Kearney’s campaign resembles a more traditional Jersey setup. Democratic leaders tapped Kearney, also a Union County Sheriff’s officer. He won his council seat in 2020 by defeating a Republican who had fired off a series of bigoted Facebook posts. Kearney has raised $533k for his general election campaign; $503k has come directly from Nick Scutari’s Senate leadership PAC, and most of the rest of the money has come from corporate donors.

Muñoz, who joined the legislature in 2009 after the death of her husband, Assemblyman Eric Muñoz (R-Summit), holds a visible role as the Assembly GOP’s budget officer. Matsikoudis, a former member of the New Providence Borough Council, took Bramnick’s Assembly seat in 2021 after defeating several opponents at a Union GOP convention.

The race was among the state’s most expensive — Muñoz and Matsikoudis have spent more than $870k on their defense. A New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission analysis found the 21st was home to the state’s second-most expensive election.

This story is developing.