Bloomfield Dem organization wins 2 of 3 ward council seats

A fierce Democratic primary for three ward council seats pitting Gov. Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Assemblyman Michael Venezia (D-Bloomfield), and the local Democratic organization against U.S. Senator Andy Kim. Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-Glen Ridge) and State Sen. Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange) ended in a 2-1 split: the organization-backed slate won two seats where incumbents were running, and the progressive insurgent captured the open 2nd Ward seat. 

Incumbents Rosalee Gonzalez (1st Ward) and Sarah Cruz (3rd Ward) won handily, but progressive Greg Babula won the 2nd Ward seat. 

Despite the two wins, the results remain a concerning sign for Venezia, the Bloomfield Democratic municipal chairman. Venezia narrowly won his own primary last year and won held his own 2nd Ward county committee seat by sixteen votes. Still, the results protect the council majority of Mayor Jenny Mundell. 

Gonzalez defeated Stefanie Santiago, 91-780, 54%-46%, and Cruz defeated Stef Bootwala, 908–663, 57%-42%. 

In the open-seat race, outgoing Councilman Nicholas Joanow, 80, was viewed as an independent on the all-Democratic council.  Babula defeated Jason Martinez, the Essex County Youth Services director, 1,159-964, 53%-44%.  A third candidate, Paul Bonica, received 63 votes. 

Gonzalez faced Santiago in a rematch of the 2025 primary for a one-year unexpired term, which Gonzalez won by 229 votes, 56%-44%.

No Republicans filed for any of the ward seats, and unless a Republican receives enough write-in votes to secure the GOP nomination, the results will all but ensure that each of these seats remains in Democratic hands.

Bloomfield is an overwhelmingly Democratic town, but that does not mean being a local elected Democrat is a free ride. The township has become increasingly progressive in state-level elections in recent years. Bloomfield was instrumental in Mejia’s upset victory in the Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 11th district.

Meanwhile,  in 2024, interim Bloomfield Mayor Ted Gamble lost his Democratic primary race to Mundell, a councilwoman, after Venezia left the mayoral post to take his seat in the legislature.