Atlantic City councilman switches parties, will run for county commissioner as a Republican

Atlantic City Councilman-at-Large George Tibbit will switch parties and run as a Republican against Ernest Coursey, the longtime Atlantic County Commissioner.

The 1st district county commissioner seat leans Democratic, but it became more competitive during redistricting after a Democratic map split Atlantic City and Pleasantville into different districts to give them a chance to pick up another seat.

Coursey could face a challenge in the Democratic primary.  He announced last year that he would run on gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop’s ballot slogan and not seek the support of the county organization.

Tibbit won his fourth term in 2021 by over 1,700 votes in a partisan election.  His seat is up this year.

A win by Tibbit could give the GOP a 9-0 majority on the Board of County Commissioners.

District 1 includes Atlantic City, Longport, Margate, Ventnor, and one district in Egg Harbor Township.

Coursey served as an Atlantic City councilman for eleven years, and served as an aide to U.S. Senator Bob Torricelli and as a Commissioner of the South Jersey Transportation Authority.

Radio personality Harry Hurley first reported the party switch.