Pearson lead expand by 43 in close Cumberland freeholder race

Democrat Donna Pearson expanded her lead by 43 votes on Tuesday and is now 1,637 votes ahead of Republican Victoria Lods in a close race for a seat on the Cumberland County Board of Freeholders.

Pearson, a former freeholder attempting a political comeback after narrowly winning the Democratic primary as an off-the-line candidate, now leads Lods, 28,786 to 27,149.

Tuesday was the first day the race had not tightened for Lods, a former aide to State Sen. Nicholas Asselta (R-Vineland) who has already lost close races for freeholder and county clerk.

Two Democratic incumbents have maintained a steady lead for the other two freeholder seats.

Carol Musso (29,206) and George Castellini (29,082) lead Republicans Antonio Romero (26,769) and Darwin Cooper, Jr. (26,142) in contests that may be out of reach for the GOP.

If Republican were to sweep all three seats, it would give them control of the Cumberland freeholder board.

Sheriff Robert Austino, a Democrat, is likely to have been re-elected against Republican Michael Donato.  Austino leads 3,417 votes, 53%-47%.

Democrats are leading at the top of the ticket in Cumberland: Joe Biden (52%), Cory Booker (52%), and Amy Kennedy (50%).

Provisional ballots in Cumberland could be counted as early as today.