The Camden County Democratic machine survived the abolishment of the county organization line and the extinction of Ballot Siberia without much difficulty, as their slate of candidates scored victories over an anti-machine progressive slate.
Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Cherry Hill) won the Democratic nomination for county clerk, beating back a challenge from South Jersey Progressive candidate Rebecca Holloway 61%-39%. Lampitt, a former Cherry Hill councilwoman and an assemblywoman since 2006 – she chairs the Assembly Education Committee – was the choice of Camden Democrats to succeed Joseph Ripa, who is retiring.
Six candidates sought the Democratic nomination for three county commissioner seats, and without bracketing, the ballot positions of the two slates were scattered. Incumbents Jeff Nash (#2), Al Dyer (#4) and Melina Kane (#5) went up against three progressive challengers: Kyle Irwin (#1), a graduate student at Rowan University; teacher Susan Druckenbrod (#3); and former Camden school board member Elton Custis (#6).
The three incumbents easily prevailed: Nash (23.7%), Kane (23.7%), and Dyer (20.3%) defeated Irwin (11.9%), Druckenbrod (11.1%) and Custis (9.2%).
The victory puts a damper on years of protestations by progressive club members that they might be electorally competitive if the lines went away.
On the Republican side, three organization-backed candidates prevailed in the GOP primary against a slate organized by Claire Gustafson, an unsuccessful GOP congressional candidate in the 1st district.
In the county clerk’s race, Jennifer Exler defeated Lisa Chambers, 79%-21%.
Danielle Barry (27.0%), Donald J. Smith (26.4%), and Norman Rebel, Jr. (25.8%) defeated Jennifer Moore (7.7%), Ian Gill (6.6%), and Denise Gonzalez (6.4%) in the GOP primary for county commissioner.
Former Sheriff Chuck Billingham, who is seeking a comeback after Whip Wilson’s retirement, was unopposed in the Democratic sheriff’s primary. So was Republican Sean Williams, who ran on the Camden GOP line.
Camden Republicans have not won a countywide election in Camden County in 34 years.