The polls are closed as N.J. awaits election results

It’s 8 PM, and the polls are now open for the 2023 New Jersey primary election, even in Cedar Grove.

All 120 seats in the New Jersey Legislature are up this year, and control of the State Senate and General Assembly is up for grabs in Gov. Phil Murphy’s mid-term elections.  Twenty-seven legislators are not seeking re-election to their current posts; six members of the State Assembly are running for the Senate.  Click HERE for a full list of contested legislative races.

This is the first election using a new map approved last year by the Legislative Apportionment Commission.  While Republicans have a path to majorities in both houses, it’s a narrow one, and they will need to run the table to win.

Two veteran senators, Richard Codey (D-Roseland) and Nia Gill (D-Montclair), are facing off in the first incumbent vs. incumbent Senate race in New Jersey history after redistricting put the two lawmakers in the same district.  Codey, a former governor and Senate President, was elected to the Assembly in 1973 and to the Senate in 1981; Gill was elected to the Assembly in 1993 and to the Senate in 2001.

Two Republican senators face serious primary challengers: freshman Edward Durr (R-Logan), who upset Senate President Steve Sweeney in the 3rd district two years ago, faces a primary challenge from his former running mate, Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer (R-Woolwich), and Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montville), a five-term incumbent and one of the most conservative members of the Senate, is opposed by Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo (R-Montville) in the 26th district.

Also in the 26th, incumbents Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) and Brian Bergen (R-Denville) face two candidates running with Mastrangelo: former Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-Parsippany) and former Parsippany Councilman Robert Peluso.

In the 4th district, where State Sen. Fred Madden (D-Washington Township) is retiring after 20 years in office, Gloucester County Commissioner Nick DeSilvio and former Washington Township Councilman Christopher DelBorrello are facing off in a vicious, burn-the-house-down campaign for the GOP nomination.

The winner will face nine-term Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Washington Township).

In the Republican Assembly primary, DeSilvio’s running mates, Michael Clark and Denise Gonzalez, face two candidates running with DelBorrello, former Buena Council President and Operating Engineers Local 825 board member Matt Walker, and teacher Amanda Esposito.

The other hot primary in the State is in the 24th district, which includes Sussex County, part of western Morris, and two municipalities in Warren.  State Sen. Steve Oroho (R-Franklin) and Assemblyman Hal Wirths (R-Wantage) are retiring, and Assemblyman Parker Space (R-Wantage) is unopposed for the GOP State Senate nomination.

Five candidates are competing for the two open Assembly seats: one ticket has Lafayette Board of Education President Josh Aikens and Warren County Commissioner Jason Sarnoski; the other is Sussex County Commissioner Dawn Fantasia and Chester Mayor Mike Inganamort.

In the 28th district, where Mila Jasey (D-South Orange) is stepping down after sixteen as an assemblywoman,  three candidates are seeking the two seats: incumbent Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark) and her running mate, Deputy Essex County Clerk Garnet Hall; and former Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee.

The top county race in the state is in Hudson, where Tom DeGise is retiring after 21 years as county executive.  His chief of staff, Craig Guy, is the heavy favorite against progressive Eleana Little.

There are also contested primaries for county and municipal office. Click HERE for a full list of races for county office.   Click HERE for a full list of local races.