GOP chips away at some county registration leads

Republicans chipped away at Democratic registration leads in some key New Jersey counties in February, though Democratic leads continued to expand in others.

In Cumberland County, Democrats’ registration lead fell to 11,777. It was 11,950 at the start of February and 11,975 on Election Day 2019.

Voters there re-elected Democratic Freeholder Darlene Barber last year, though Republican Douglas Albrecht won the seat of retiring freeholder Joseph Sparacio.

Three of the county’s freeholder seats, all held by Democrats, are up for a race this year, meaning Democrats could lose control of the freeholder board.

There was a similar trend in Gloucester County, where Democrats hold all countywide seats.

The Democratic lead there fell to 34,214 this month. At the start of February, there were 34,518 more Democrats than Republicans in the county. On Election Day 2019, Democrats had a 34,655-voter edge.

President Donald Trump carried the county in 2016, and it’s possible that his position on the ballot this November could boost downballot candidates in the blue county.

In Old Bridge-sized Salem County, Republicans cut the Democratic lead to 2,353. That’s down from 2,426 last month and 2,558 last Election Day.

Republicans still hold control of the county, and with only Democratic Freeholder Charles Hassler up for election this year, they’re guaranteed to do so until at least 2021.

Democrats did see their registration lead continue to rise in Burlington County.

The county now has 41,486 more Democrats than Republicans. That figure was 41,260 last month and 40,825 on Election Day 2019.

The party now holds all but one countywide post. Burlington Surrogate Mary Ann O’Brien isn’t up for re-election until 2021, though the county will be pivotal in Rep. Andy Kim’s re-election race.