Morris County Republicans won a series of countywide elections on Tuesday, maintaining their 50-year victory streak amid a weak Democratic performance across New Jersey.
Commissioners Deborah Smith, John Krickus, and Stephen Shaw and Surrogate Heather Darling each convincingly won reelection; the Republican commissioners currently have a combined 55% of the vote against Democrats Jonathan Sackett, Justin Strickland, and Bud Ravitz, while Darling leads Democrat John Holly 56% to 44%.
In theory, this year could have represented one of the best opportunities for Democrats to win in the county in decades. Morris County has trended blue in recent elections, and a strong performance by Vice President Kamala Harris could have provided sufficient coattails for a Democratic surge – but instead, Donald Trump is on track to narrowly carry the county against Harris.
The three Democratic candidates for county commissioner each already serve in public office: Sackett is on the Rockaway Township Council; Strickland serves on the Chatham Borough Council; and Ravitz serves on the Morris Township Committee.