Democrats win LD8’s four-way rematch, flip one seat

In a big win for South Jersey Democrats, Assemblywoman Andrea Katz (D-Chesterfield) and Hammonton Education Association President Anthony Angelozzi defeated their GOP opponents in the 8th legislative district, the New Jersey Globe projects. 

As of 10:43 p.m., Katz and Angelozzi led Assemblyman Michael Torrissi (R-Hammonton) and former Assemblyman Brandon Umba (R-Medford) a combined 55.7%-44.3%. Angelozzi’s victory is the third Democratic Assembly flip of the night.

The 8th, composed of parts of Burlington and Atlantic counties, was one of two districts to elect one Democrat and one Republican to the Assembly in 2023. Democrats didn’t expect to win a seat that year, but Katz and Angelozzi snuck past Umba for second and third place, giving the former a victory. Angelozzi and Umba quickly decided to run again, setting up a quadruple rematch.

The district has leaned toward Democrats in recent presidential elections, but legislative Republicans held the district with an iron grip until Katz’s victory.

The race was the state’s most expensive. As of a few days before the election, the campaigns and super PACs had spent $4.6 million in the district, according to a state analysis. 

Like other districts, affordability and education commanded much attention. Katz made some headlines proposing a bill to add an electricity surcharge to energy-intensive data centers; Torrissi and Umba said the Democrats would perpetuate a Democratic status quo if elected.

In June, Katz and Angelozzi easily held off a primary challenge from Evesham Councilman Eddie Freeman III, who ran on Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop’s slate of anti-establishment Assembly candidates.

The race sparked a rift between the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 and the broader New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council. The 8th’s state senator, Latham Tiver (R-Southampton), is the Operating Engineers’ business representative, and his union backed Torrissi and Umba in an effort to get Tiver two GOP districtmates and protect him from a potentially strong, incumbent challenger in 2027.