Dunn projected to win unexpired Assembly term

Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-Mendham) will win the remainder of State Sen. Anthony M. Bucco’s (R-Boonton) unexpired term in the lower chamber, ending a days-long drama that began with Democratic challenger Darcy Draeger holding a 2,289-vote lead, the New Jersey Globe projects.

Dunn is now ahead by 6,061 votes, leading Draeger 61,262-55,201.

In the special election for the 25th district’s State Senate seat, Bucco has now widened his lead over Democrat Rupande Mehta to 9,708 votes.

He’s ahead 63,742 to 54,034, 54.4% to 45.9%.

The Morris County Republican will complete the unexpired term of his late father, State Sen, Anthony R. Bucco (R-Boonton), who died in September 2019.

The county’s Republican Committee picked Bucco to replace his father in the Senate. Dunn took Bucco’s vacant Assembly seat.

Both Democrats led on election night.

“Senator Bucco and Assemblywoman Dunn are two of the finest public servants New Jersey has, and I am pleased to congratulate them on their reelection,” said GOP State Chairman Doug Steinhardt. “They ran strong campaigns in a swing district talking about the values Republicans share- low taxes, protecting small businesses, and checking the out of control Trenton Democrats.”

This story was updated at 12:32 PM with comment from Steinhardt.