State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz (R-Summit), and Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis (R-New Providence) have defied political gravity once again and won re-election in the 21st legislative district, the New Jersey Globe projects.
As of 11:20 p.m., Bramnick leads his Democratic opponent, former appointed Bernardsville Councilman Matt Marino, 54.5%-45.5%. Muñoz and Matsikoudis are locked in a somewhat closer race; they have 26.6% and 26.2% of the vote, respectively, against Springfield Councilman Chris Weber and Bernards Democratic municipal chair Elizabeth Graner, who each have 23.6%.
On paper, the 21st district should be among the most competitive in the state. It voted for Joe Biden by 17 percentage points in 2020 and for Jack Ciattarelli by just a few hundred votes in 2021, making it substantially bluer than many of this year’s most hotly contested districts.
But 21st district Republicans, led by the aggressively moderate Bramnick, have carved out a formidable niche for themselves among the 21st district’s high-education voters in suburban Central Jersey. This year, state Democrats didn’t bother to target Bramnick or his running mates at all, largely leaving the district’s underfunded Democratic ticket to fend for themselves.
The fact that the Assembly race was relatively close anyways is a signal that 21st district Republicans may be in danger of losing seats the next time a more unfavorable political environment comes along – perhaps as soon as 2025.
See all 2023 election results HERE.
RELATED ARTICLES
-
November 2, 2021 -
-
