Race for Cumberland County Commission seats too close to call

A Democrat and a Republican narrowly lead a race for two Cumberland County Commissioner seats, a race that is too close to call.

Republican County Commissioners Douglas Albrecht (18,606) and Victoria Lods (18,215) faced a challenge from Democrats John Capizola (18,916) and Yolanda Garcia Balicki (18,291). Republicans currently hold a 6-1 majority.

Lods was elected county commissioner in 2022; her victory over incumbent Darlene Barber allowed Republicans to take control of the Board of County Commissioners. She has lost two races for county clerk against Democrat Celeste Riley.  Albrecht, a former Vineland councilman, was elected in 2019.

Capizola had served as an interim county commissioner in 2023 but lost his bid for a full term last year. Garcia Balicki challenged State Sen. Michael Testa Jr., the Cumberland County GOP chairman in 2021.

Cumberland Democrats have been engaged in a quiet civil war for several years, and Capizola and Garcia Balicki are allied with the faction led by county Democratic Chair Kevin McCann. A candidate from the rival faction, Commercial Democratic municipal chair LaRae Smith, ran for the commissioner nomination this year as well, but came in a close third place.