It looks like a Republican primary for Madden’s seat, as intra-party strife continues

Former Washington Township Councilman Chris DelBorrello will seek the Republican nomination for State Senate in the politically competitive 4th district, setting up a Republican primary for the seat of retiring Democratic State Sen. Fred Madden (D-Washington Township) in a region of the state where a burgeoning GOP has faced an increased number of internal conflicts.

Gloucester County Commissioner Nicholas DeSilvio, seeking the open Senate seat, has secured the organization lines in Camden and Gloucester County, where roughly 93% of the registered Republicans in the 4th reside.

But on Saturday, Atlantic County Republicans might award their line to DelBorello and former Buena Council President Matthew Walker, Sr., who is running for the State Assembly.  A still-to-be-determined second Assembly candidate could emerge as a running mate for DelBorrello and Walker.

DelBorrello was elected to the Washington Township Council in 2010 but did not seek re-election to a second term in 2014.   His decision to step down after a single term came after an intra-party battle with another GOP councilman, Giancarlo D’Orazio. He now lives in Gloucester Township in Camden County.

A U.S. Navy veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm and an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 351 member, DeSilvio was an upset victory for county commissioner in 2021.   He has teamed up with two Assembly candidates: Michael Clark, a 24-year-old businessman and athletic director of the Solid Rock Christian School, and Denise Gonzalez, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and also a member of IBEW Local 351.

Madden announced last week that he was retiring after 20 years in the Senate.  He had unseated an incumbent Republican in 2003 by 63 votes in what was the most expensive legislative campaign in state history at the time.

Democrats have not yet settled on their 4th district slate.  Yesterday, six-term Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera (D-Gloucester Township) told the New Jersey Globe that she was not sure if she would seek re-election.

The filing deadline is March 27.

An earlier update to this story stated that Walker has withdrawn from the race, but Atlantic County GOP Chairman Don Purdy says he remains a candidate.