In Piscataway, organization candidates win 3 of 4 council seats

The Piscataway Democratic organization has beaten back a strong challenge from the progressive “Putting Piscataway Working Families First” slate, winning three of four ward races and maintaining control of the township council.

This keeps the Piscataway Democratic organization, led by State Sen. Robert Smith (D-Piscataway)  and Mayor Brian Wahler, in power even though their majority was reduced from 5-2 to 4-3.

The progressive pickup came in Ward 1, where Shantell Cherry, the school board president, unseated three-term Councilman Frank Uhrin, 814-700, a 54%-46% margin.

In Ward 2, incumbent Dennis Espinosa defeated Betsy Aumack, a former fire commissioner, ,  Aumack spent nine years as a Piscataway fire commissioner, 1,000 to 848 (54%-46%).

Councilwoman Sharon Carmichael won the Democratic primary in Ward 3 by a 58%-42% margin, 854-616, against Viola Stone.  Stone came within 400 votes of winning the at-large primary two years ago.

The primary in Ward 4 turned out to be a blowout: incumbent Michele Lombardi defeated Rashaad Couloote, 579-326, a 28-point victory. 

Republicans are only contesting Ward 1, with William Lawrence running unopposed. Lawrence is an advocate for term limits. 

Piscataway is a Democratic stronghold: Kamala Harris carried the township by fifty points in 2024.