Party-backed Camden County commissioners beat progressive primary challenge

Incumbent Camden County Commissioners Louis Cappelli and Jonathan Young Sr. defeated a pair of progressive challengers for renomination in the Democratic primary after progressive challengers fell short again in their bids to upset the powerful Camden County Democratic machine, the New Jersey Globe projects. 

Cappelli and Young beat consultant Vonetta Hawkins and registered nurse Constance Mercedes, who ran with the South Jersey Progressive Democrats.

As of 9:15 p.m., Cappelli leads with 26,694 votes, and Young follows with 21,523. Hawkins trails with 13,788, and Mercedes is last with 11,987. 

Nearly every cycle since 2016, the Camden Democratic organization – one of the most powerful county parties in the state – has faced a challenge from anti-organization county commissioner candidates; every year, the challengers have been easily dispatched. This year, clearly, was no exception.  

Cappelli and Young combined for 72% of the vote in their 2023 primary, the last before a federal lawsuit brought an end to the county line, preferential ballot positions, and Ballot Siberia designs.

Cappelli was first elected to countywide office in 2003 after serving two terms on the Collingswood Board of Education and ten years as a Collingswood Town Commissioner.  He is a law partner of State Sen. Douglas Steinhardt (R-Lopatcong).

Young, a two-term county commissioner, is the political director of the Eastern Atlantic State Regional Council of Carpenters.

Hawkins ran for Assembly last year on former Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop’s slate of anti-establishment candidates.

Cappelli and Young will face a single Republican, Robert Sloane, unless another candidate won enough write-in votes.

Camden County Republicans have not won a countywide election since 1990.