Republicans score upset wins in Millburn, Summit, Westfield — and maybe Cranford

In a year where New Jersey Democrats picked up seats in the legislature, Republicans scored four stunning upsets in Essex and Union train station towns that have become Democratic strongholds in recent years.

In Millburn, which Gov. Phil Murphy carried in 2021 with 66% and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) with 70% in 2022, elected two Republicans to the township committee on Tuesday, reducing the Democratic majority to 3-2.  Frank Saccomandi IV and Ben Stoler won by a nearly 2-1 over Democrats Bruce Kramer and Charu Goel.   Two Democratic incumbents, Magee Miggins and Sanjeev Vinayak, did not seek re-election.

A controversial downtown redevelopment project helped Republican Elizabeth Fagen, a retired physician, become the new mayor of Summit and gave the GOP a 5-2 majority on the Summit Common Council.

Fagen defeated Democrat David Naidu, a former council president, by a massive 57%-43% margin; she leads by 1,103 votes in a race to succeed retiring two-term Democratic mayor Nora Radest.

Republicans also picked up three common council seats: Kevin Smallwood defeated incumbent Jaime Levine by 481 votes in a race for a council at-large seat; Bob Pawlowski edged out Diego Hoic by 315 votes in the 1st Ward; and Jamel Boyer beat Claire Toth by 352 votes in the 2nd Ward.   Two Democratic incumbents did not seek re-election.

Murphy took 57% in Summit two years ago, and Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) received 62% in his unsuccessful 2022 re-election bid.

Westfield Republicans won three seats in Democratic Mayor Shelley Brindle’s midterm election, bringing the town council to a likely 4-4 split.  Councilwoman Emily Root was ousted from her 1st Ward seat by 120 votes against Todd Saunders, Michael Armento captured the open 2nd Ward seat by 222 votes against Erika Vargas-Garrison, and David Kiefer took out incumbent Scott Katz in the 4th Ward by 141 votes.  The GOP appears to have held an open seat in the 3rd Ward, where Michael Domogala leads Dawn Nichol-Manning by 88 votes.

In 2021, Murphy won Westfield with 58%; Malinowski won the town with 64% against now-Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield).

Cranford also appears to have gone Republican, with Michael Petrucci (3,138) and Deirdre Koczur (3,134) leading incumbents Brian Andrews (3,093) and Paul Gallo (3,042) in a race for two township committee seats.  That reduces the Democratic majority from 4-1 to possibly 3-2 Republican.   Murphy won Cranford with 54%.

But in a fifth train station town, Garwood, the race is too close to call.  Democrats Vincent Kearney (592), an incumbent, and Karina Boto (577) lead Republicans Michele Capobianco (573) and Shannon Anwander (561) in a race for two borough council seats currently held by Democrats.

In a race for an unexpired term, Democrat Sean Foley leads Republican Councilwoman Rachel Herz by 14 votes, 587 to 573.

Democrats have a 4-2 majority.  Republican Jack Ciattarelli carried Garwood with 54% against Murphy in 2021.

Roselle Park Mayor Joseph Signorello, who has started and ended bids for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate and Congress, was re-elected to a third term; he leads Republican Jodi Bellmo by 193 votes, 54%-46%.

In Kenilworth, Mayor Linda Karlovitch, a Democrat, leads GOP challenger Scott Pentz, a councilman, by 17 votes, 892 to 875.   Democrats appear to have flipped two Republican council seats: Patrick Boyle (917) and Toni Giordano Picerno (883) lead Douglas Piper (836) and Jessyca Villarreal (835).

Linden Councilman John Francis Roman, a Democrat, was re-elected with 68% against a local rival, independent John Kaczor.

In Union County, Democrats won local races in Berkeley Heights, Springfield, and Union, while Republicans won in Mountainside and New Providence.

In Essex, Republicans flipped an open Democratic borough council seat in Caldwell, where Nicholas Correale and Matthew Giermanski defeated Democrats Vivian Rodeffer and Kenneth Jurgensen.  The GOP flipped the mayoral post and control of the borough council in 2022, and there are no longer any Democrats in local government.

Longtime GOP Councilwoman Michele Toti was defeated for re-election in Roseland by Democrat John Biront; Democratic incumbent Christopher Bardi was re-elected.