Party-backed commissioner slate wins in Cumberland as local Dem civil war continues

A three-way Democratic primary for two seats on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has resulted in a close victory for the party-backed ticket, the New Jersey Globe projects, although what “party-backed” means in the far South Jersey county is somewhat up for debate.

Last year, the Cumberland Democratic organization splintered into two factions, one affiliated with Chairman Kevin McCann and the other with a cohort of municipal chairs and vice-chairs, each of which proclaimed itself to be the true manifestation of the county party. The dispute led to a primary for county commissioner, which was won by two candidates from the McCann faction.

McCann remains chairman to this day, but the old wounds aren’t healed, and another primary developed this year along the same battle lines as before. On the McCann side were former interim County Commissioner John Capizola (D-Vineland) and attorney Yolanda Garcia Balicki; Commercial Township Democratic municipal chair LaRae Smith was the only candidate representing the breakaway faction.

All three are familiar names in Cumberland Democratic politics. Capizola was appointed to the commissioner board in 2023 but lost re-election that November, then failed in his comeback attempt last year; Smith also ran for commissioner last year but lost in the primary; and Garcia Balicki was the Democratic nominee for State Senate in the 1st district in 2021.

Ultimately, it was Capizola and Garcia Balicki who emerged as the winners over Smith, essentially a repeat of 2024. As of 1:14 a.m., Garcia Balicki has 36% of the vote, Capizola has 34%, and Smith has 30%.

A couple of years ago, it looked like Democrats were on their way to extinction in the county, losing nearly every countywide office against an onslaught from Cumberland GOP Chairman Mike Testa. Last year, though, the party retained the county clerk’s office and flipped a commissioner seat even as Donald Trump was carrying the county, so Capizola and Garcia Balicki aren’t necessarily doomed this fall against Republican incumbents Victoria Lods (R-Vineland) and Douglas Albrecht (R-Vineland).