Morris GOP freeholder now leads by 5,147

Incumbent Republican Tayfun Selen has opened up a 5,147-vote lead in a race to hold his seat on the Morris County Board of Freeholders.

Selen now leads Democrat Cary Amaro, 119,154 to 114,007, 51.1% to 48.9%.

Amaro had led until earlier this week in a county where Joe Biden is holding on to a 15,875-vote lead in Morris County over President Donald Trump.

Biden is on pace to become the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Morris County since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

Democrats have not won a countywide election in Morris since 1973, when Douglas Romaine won an upset victory in a race for freeholder.  He lost re-election in 1976.

Selen is seeking his first full term as a freeholder.  The former Chatham mayor won a special election convention earlier this year after Heather Darling resigned to become Morris County Surrogate.