Sampson, Walker win in LD31

Assemblyman William Sampson (D-Bayonne) and Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker (D-Jersey City) have won two seats in the 31st legislative district, the New Jersey Globe projects, after getting through a competitive Democratic primary against allies of Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop.

As of 11:47 p.m. and with nearly all votes counted, Sampson and Walker have a combined 73% of the vote, while the Republican ticket, realtor Anthony Acosta and Motor Vehicle Commission manager Neil Schulman, has 27%.

The long-standing deal among Hudson County Democrats in the 31st district is that one Assembly seat goes to Bayonne and the other goes to Jersey City. In 2021, Sampson – then an unknown longshoreman – was selected by Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis to take the Bayonne seat; two years later, as Angela McKnight (D-Jersey City) moved up to the Senate, Jersey City Democratic municipal chair Barbara McCann Stamato took her Assembly seat.

This year’s Hudson County War, however, threw things out of whack. Sampson stuck with the Hudson County Democratic organization (HCDO), which endorsed Mikie Sherrill for governor, but McCann Stamato remained loyal to Fulop, creating a split in the delegation; the HCDO recruited Walker to beat McCann Stamato, who was joined on her own ticket by Bayonne Councilwoman Jacqueline Weimmer.

It was clear throughout the spring that the race would be a nailbiter, and it was, with a final race call not coming until two days after the election. Walker, who ran for Congress in a special election last year, was in front with 29%, while Sampson just barely beat out McCann Stamato for the second seat, 24.5% to 23.7%.

Republicans were never going to be a threat in the deep-blue urban district, but attention is already turning to 2027, when McKnight – a Fulop ally – might find herself threatened by Walker, her new district-mate.