Democratic race in LD-2 remains unsettled, with Rowan winning one slot

A fight between the Atlantic County Democratic organization and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop’s slate in the 2nd legislative district remains unsettled, though the New Jersey Globe projects that party-backed retired attorney Maureen Rowan has won the Democratic nomination for one of the district’s two Assembly seats.

The race for the other seat remains too close to call between Pleasantville Councilwoman Joanne Famularo, who has party support, and former Atlantic City Councilman Bruce Weekes, a member of the Fulop slate.

As of 1:08 a.m., Rowan is in front with 8,623 votes, or 28.9%, while Famularo has 7,251 (24.3%) and Weekes has 7,169 (24.0%). The fourth candidate, Linwood school board member and Fulop running mate Lisa Bonanno, is in last with 6,777 (22.7%).

In the past, Atlantic County Democrats have typically gotten their way in the competitive 2nd district, which covers the large majority of the county (including its urban core around Atlantic City). The last time the district hosted a contested Democratic primary was in 2017, when Atlantic County Commissioner Ernest Coursey (D-Atlantic City) and his running mate tried to unseat a pair of incumbent assemblymen.

This year, though, the gubernatorial battle at the top of the ticket and the end of the county line led to an increase in primaries across the state, and Atlantic County was no exception. Team Fulop had the backing of both Coursey and Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr., giving it some real institutional heft.

Whoever does win the primary, though, is still in for a tough fight in the general election. Republicans have established a firm hold on the 2nd district in recent election cycles, and there’s no guarantee that Democrats will make unseating Assemblymembers Don Guardian (R-Atlantic City) and Claire Swift (R-Margate) a priority in the fall.