Republican Jennifer Johnson won re-election, but Democrat Barbara Fernandez has edged out former Council President John Young to capture the second available seat, ending the GOP’s control of all six council seats.
Republican Councilwoman Jennifer Johnson won re-election to the Hopatcong Borough Council, while Democrat Barbara “Bobbi” Fernandez defeated former Council President John Young to capture the second available seat, breaking Republicans’ full control of the governing body.
Johnson led the four-candidate field with 2,659 votes, followed by Fernandez with 2,395 votes. Young finished third with 2,067 votes, while Democrat Miguel Manalo received 1,843 votes, or 18.61%.
There were also 940 write-in votes, accounting for 9.49% of the total 9,904 votes cast.
Young, a former council president, defeated incumbent Republican Councilwoman Rachel Rodriguez in the June primary, setting up a general election matchup against Manalo, a civic activist who drew attention for participating in protests surrounding a proposed ICE facility in nearby Roxbury, and Fernandez, a reading specialist at the North Warren Regional School District.
Donald Trump carried the borough by more than 22 percentage points in 2024, while Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli defeated Democrat Mikie Sherrill by 11 points in Hopatcong in 2025.
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