Ocean County Republicans extended one of New Jersey’s longest countywide winning streaks on Tuesday, re-electing Commissioner Frank Sadeghi and preserving their complete control of county government.
Sadeghi, a Toms River businessman and close ally of Republican County Chairman George Gilmore, defeated Democrat Khia Phua, an MTA train operator and former labor union leader, to win another three-year term on the Board of County Commissioners.
The victory preserves the Republicans’ 5-0 majority and extends a winning streak that began after Democrats captured two freeholder seats in 1989.
Paul Brush and Mark Troncone were the last Democrats to win countywide office in Ocean, a county that has become New Jersey’s most reliable source of Republican votes.
Sadeghi first won election in 2023, succeeding Joseph Vicari, who retired after 39 years in county government.
Ocean County has long occupied a distinctive place in New Jersey politics. Republicans have held an overwhelming voter registration advantage, and the county regularly produces some of the largest GOP margins in statewide elections.
Donald Trump carried Ocean by 36 percentage points in 2024, and Jack Ciattarelli won it by 34 points in the 2025 gubernatorial election.
The county’s Republican dominance has not always been so complete. Bill Clinton carried Ocean by six points in his 1996 presidential re-election campaign, and Al Gore came within a little more than one point of winning it in 2000.
Since then, Ocean has moved steadily into the Republican column.
Its political history also includes a period when Democrats could win legislative races. John Russo, who later became State Senate president, was elected to the Senate in 1973. Since 1900, only three Democrats have won State Senate elections in Ocean County.
Today, Democrats hold relatively few municipal offices, and Republican primaries often generate more competition than general elections.
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February 6, 2023 -
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