Passaic County Republicans will not support Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) for re-election, giving their organization line to Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-Parsippany) and Christian Barranco, an IBEW Local 102 member and former Pompton Lakes councilman.
The move comes hours after Barranco defeated DeCroce for the GOP organization line in Morris County by just seven votes and is the latest development in a race for a solidly Republican seat that has suddenly become a trainwreck.
West Milford, the only Passaic County municipality in the 26th legislative district, makes up about 12% of the total votes cast in a Republican primary. Morris is 78% and Essex, which has four towns, is 10% of the primary votes.
DeCroce received 20 votes, followed by Barranco (14) and Webber (6).
All eyes are now on Essex County GOP Chairman Al Barlas to see where his line goes.
Barranco is a former Pompton Plains councilman who ran for Passaic County freeholder in 2013. He moved to Morris County in 2019.
The Morris vote came at the county GOP votes earlier this year to eliminate open primaries and establish an organization line for the first time.
Webber has become the fourth Assembly incumbent to lose an organization line this year, just as progressive leaders are challenging the constitutionality of the line in federal court.
Monmouth County Republicans have dumped two-term incumbent Serena DiMaso (R-Holmdel) in the 13th district, and Hudson Democrats have denied party support to Assembly Majority Whip Nicholas Chiaravalloti (D-Bayonne) in the 31st.
Webber has been an assemblyman since 2008 and DeCroce since she won her late husband’s seat in 2012.
RELATED ARTICLES
-
February 7, 2018 -
March 15, 2018 -
February 23, 2019