Demarest Councilman David Jiang will seek a recount in the 39th district State Assembly race to overturn Donna Abene’s 137-vote victory in the Democratic primary.
Abene, a former Woodcliff Lake Council President, defeated Jiang, 8,464 to 8,317. Jiang’s running mate, former Dumont Mayor Andrew LoBruno, was the top vote-getter with 9,137; former Dumont Councilman Damon Englese finished fourth with 6,137 votes.
LoBruno and Jiang ran on a slate with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who was seeking the Democratic nomination for governor; Abene and Englese ran with the endorsement of the Bergen County Democratic organization.
Jiang’s attorney, Scott Salmon, pointed to the 2023 mayoral race in Oakland, where his client, the incumbent mayor, picked up 35 votes in a recount – a number that made up 21.5% of the total votes cast in the election.
The matter has been assigned to Superior Court Judge Kelly Conlon. A hearing date has not yet been assigned.
Jiang is offering to pay for the recount.
The primary winners will face Republican Assemblymen Bob Auth (R-Old Tappan) and John Azzaritti (R-Saddle River).
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