Diegnan, Karabinchak, Stanley win in the 18th district

The New Jersey Globe is projecting that State Sen. Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield), Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak (D-Edison), and Assemblyman Sterley Stanley (D-East Brunswick) have won re-election to the 18th legislative district.

Diegnan defeated firefighter Vihal Patel, while Karabinchak and Stanley beat realtor Angela Fam and South Plainfield Councilwoman Melanie Mott.

Diegnan was first elected to the Senate, which includes Edison and parts of surrounding Middlesex County, in a 2016 special election; he had previously served in the Assembly for 15 years.

Karabinchak, a former Edison councilman, succeeded Diegnan when Diegnan ascended to the Senate. Stanley is the delegation’s newest member, and one of the newest members of the entire legislature; he was selected in January of this year to replace now-Middlesex County Clerk Nancy Pinkin (D-East Brunswick).

Final 18th district results:

Diegnan 60.6% // Patel 39.4%

Karabinchak 29.3%, Stanley 28.5% // Mott 20.8%, Fam 20.2% // Awad 0.6% // Kulas 0.6%