Two freshman lawmakers in the heavily 24th district launched their re-election bids on Saturday with the support of three Republican county chairs.
Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (R-Franklin) and Assemblyman Mike Inganamort (R-Chester) have the backing of Joseph LaBarbera of Sussex, Laura Marie Ali of Morris, and State Sen. Doug Steinhardt (R-Lopatcong) on Warren. They also have the backing of State Sen. Parker Space (R-Wantage), former Senate Minority Leader Steve Oroho (R-Franklin), and former Assemblyman Hal Wirths.
Also backing Fantasia and Inganamort are three county sheriffs — Michael Strada of Sussex, James Gannon of Morris, and Jim McDonald of Warren – and the mayors of Chester Borough, Chester Township, Frankford, Frankin, Fredon, Green, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Hopatcong, Independence, Lafayette, Montague, Mount Olive, Netcong, Ogdensburg, Roxbury, Sandyston, Stanhope, Stillwater, Sussex Borough, Vernon, Wantage and Washington.
Assemblyman Robert Auth (R-Old Tappan) has picked up Republican endorsements in Mahwah, the largest municipality in the 39th district, as he prepares to seek a seventh term in the legislature.
Another Assembly candidate, Mahwah Councilman Ward Donigan, has endorsed Auth for re-election; he’s focusing his efforts on unseating freshman Assemblyman John Azzariti (R-Saddle River). Former congressional candidate Frank Pallotta, a Mahwah resident, is seeking the Republican nomination.
Auth secured the endorsements of Mayor Jim Wysocki and Councilwoman Janet Ariemma less than a week after the two faced off in a divisive non-partisan mayoral election, along with GOP Municipal Chairman Phil Ross, Vice Chairman Michael Schnoll, and Rob Hermansen, a former Bergen County freeholder and Mahwah councilman. Eighteen of the 27 county committee members also support Auth.
Saddle River Councilman Jon Kurpis is also seeking the GOP nomination for Assembly.
While county committee votes might help a candidate secure the organization slogan in the June 2025 primary – a bipartisan legislative committee on ballot design is still working on a plan – it’s not clear how endorsements will play in a contest that no longer has county organization lines.