Steinhardt, Space retain northwest N.J. legislative seats for Republicans

Republicans have won all six legislative seats in the 23rd and 24th legislative districts, two districts based in New Jersey’s deeply Republican northwestern corner, the New Jersey Globe projects.

In the 23rd district, which includes parts of Warren, Hunterdon, and Somerset Counties, State Sen. Doug Steinhardt (R-Lopatcong) – who was chosen at a special election convention less than a year ago to succeed now-Warren County Surrogate Michael Doherty – defeated Democratic challenger Denise King.

Steinahrdt’s two running mates, Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio (R-Hackettstown) and Assemblyman Erik Peterson (R-Franklin), beat Democrats Guy Citron and Tyler Powell. DiMaio has led the Assembly Republican conference since early 2022, presiding over an increasingly emboldened caucus of legislators – though his conference is likely to lose a few members due to strong Democratic performances tonight.

One district to the north, the Sussex County-based 24th district elected an all new Republican ticket: Assemblyman Parker Space (R-Wantage) for the Senate, Sussex County Commissioner Dawn Fantasia (R-Franklin) and Chester Township Mayor Mike Inganamort for the Assembly. They defeated the husband-and-wife duo of Edmund Khanoo (who ran for Senate) and Alicia Sharma (the lone Democratic Assembly nominee).

Space will succeed former Senate Minority Leader Steve Oroho (R-Franklin), who unexpectedly retired this year during his first term leading Senate Republicans. Space was uncontested in the Republican Senate primary, but his running mates had to get through a tougher battle; Fantasia and Inganamort narrowly won the GOP Assembly nomination against Lafayette Board of Education President Josh Aikens and Warren County Commissioner Jason Sarnoski (R-Independence).