In the closely-watched Ward 5 race for Atlantic City Council, Democratic incumbent Muhammed “Anjum” Zia holds a narrow 13-vote lead over Republican Maria Lacca, 441 to 428.
The campaign was the topic of a court fight on Tuesday morning when two voters alleged that they were coerced into filling out a vote-by-mail ballot delivered by a messenger they didn’t know, and one of the voters alleges that they were pressured to vote against a candidate they didn’t want. They didn’t identify their preferred candidate.
Superior Court Judge Stanley Bergman, Jr. ordered the mail-in ballot –and a subsequent provisional ballot – sequestered until a court hearing next week.
In Ward 6, popular Republican incumbent Jesse O. Kurtz was re-elected with 70% of the vote against Democrat Geoffrey Dorsey.
Democrats Sport Randolph in Ward 1, Kaleem Shabazz in Ward 3, and Animal Crouch in Ward 4 scored easy wins.
Ward 2 Councilwoman LaToya Dunston was unopposed, but her six-vote win in the Democratic primary is being challenged with a trial scheduled to start later this month.
The contest for three council seats in Hammonton between Republicans and the independent Hammonton First organization that controls local government is also too close to call. Two Hammonton First incumbents, Tom Gribbin (1,753) and Jonathan Oliva (1,736) lead the race, with Republican Anthony Marino (1,625) also in the lead. Trailing are Republican Joseph Caruso (1,514), Hammonton First candidate Zack Brown (1,493), and Eric Adkisson (1,465).
In Egg Harbor City, a race for three council seats is too close to call. Republican Donna Heist (409), Democrat Mason Wright, Jr. (406), and Republican Benjamin Risley, Jr. (388) lead Democrat Karl Timbers (386), Democrat Ryan Rodriguez (376), and Republican Mattia Brown (346).
Republicans won local races in Absecon, Buena Vista, Corbin City, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway, Hamilton, Northfield, Port Republic, and Somers Point.
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June 2, 2026 -
