Brick Mayor Lisa Crate, a Democrat, has a narrow 261-vote lead in a solid red municipality in Ocean County against Republican Madeline Colagiovanni Iannarone, the school board president.
But Republicans flipped up two council seats by decisive margins, bringing the 5-1 Democratic majority to a 3-3 tie. Incumbent Perry Albanese was re-elected, along with Lisa Reina and Greg Cohen. They defeated incumbent Heather DeJong and her running mates, Dan Ward and Rocco Lepore. Democratic Councilwoman Marianna Pontoriero did not seek re-election.
Crate won a special election in 2023 after Democratic Mayor John Ducey left mid-term to become a Superior Court Judge. She defeated John Catalano, who gave up his State Assembly seat to run for mayor.
In Lakewood, Republican Township Committeeman Albert Akerman won 90% of the vote against Democrat Harriet Goldberg. In a close race, Lakewood Fire Commissioner, Roshe Raitzik defeated Eliyahu Berger, 37.5%-34.4%, with Larry Loigman finishing third with 25.6%.
A hybrid ticket won in Ocean Gate: Republican Joella Nicastro and Democrat James McGrath ran unopposed for two seats.
Republicans won four ward council seats in Toms River. The closest race was in Ward 4, where Councilman David Ciccozzi was re-elected by 579 votes, 53%-46%.