Davis seeks re-election as Monmouth Dem chair

Monmouth Democratic Chairwoman Dyese Davis and Vice Chairwoman Deana Gunn are seeking re-election to their respective posts, they announced. 

The pair celebrated legislative victories and seven local seat flips, victories they said stem from hundreds of thousands of calls and tens of thousands of knocked doors.

Davis serves as chief of staff to state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) and Assemblywomen Margie Donlon (D-Ocean Twp) and Luanne Peterpaul (D-Long Branch).

“When Deana and I took the helm of this organization, we made a promise to rebuild our Democratic base from the grassroots up – and to organize our municipalities, recognizing that in this moment, they are the foundation of our party,” Davis said in a release. “We not only flipped seats and held our Democrat seats, but we’ve shown that the pathway to victory runs through Monmouth County. It’s not just a battleground, but a winnable ground.”

The pair is running for re-election with the rest of their executive board: Recording Secretary Meg Thomann, Corresponding Secretary Veverly Wyche, Treasurer Victoria Pacheco, and Sergeant-at-Arms Jason Corley. The county party will reorganize at a June meeting.

Republicans maintain control of Monmouth County and its countywide seats, but Davis helped Donlon and Peterpaul win re-election in the 11th legislative district last year.

“Our success in 2025 is a testament to our thousands of volunteers, county committee members, and municipal chairs who believed in our vision and put in the work,” Gunn said in a release. “Through our grassroots efforts, we achieved the second-highest county turnout in the Primary Election for Governor. That’s what happens when you invest in local organizing.”

Republican Jack Ciattarelli won the county by a little less than eight points in last year’s gubernatorial election, 10 points less than his 2021 margin in Monmouth and 3 points less than President Donald Trump’s margin in 2024.

The county is worth watching in 2026 as Democrats seek to break their countywide victory drought. Democrats are running Anthony Cherry for surrogate, and Soia Ugarte and Chelsey Tanner for county commissioner. Republican Surrogate Maureen Raisch filed for re-election; Commissioner Erik Anderson and Middletown Mayor Tony Perry are running for commissioner. The latter is looking to succeed two-term commissioner Ross Licitra, who is not running for re-election.

Davis took over the Monmouth Democrats in 2024, succeeding David G. Brown II.

Democrats last won a countywide seat in Monmouth County in 2008, when John D’Amico was elected freeholder.

This article was updated at 12:39 p.m. to clarify that Monmouth County Democrats are now running Anthony Cherry for surrogate.