West Amwell GOP holds Township Committee seat

Republican Committeeman Robert Balaam won re-election to the West Amwell Township Committee, defeating Democratic challenger John Dale and maintaining the party’s control of the governing body.

Balaam received 835 votes, while Dale received 734.

The contest marked the second time Dale challenged Balaam. Dale previously ran as a Republican in 2023 and lost to Balaam in the GOP primary. This year, he ran for office as a Democrat for the first time.

Balaam’s victory preserves the Republicans’ 4-1 majority on the five-member Township Committee.

West Amwell leans Republican in top-of-the-ticket elections, though recent margins have been relatively narrow. Donald Trump carried the township by just over three points in 2024, while Sen. Andy Kim narrowly beat Curtis Bashaw on the same ballot. Jack Ciattarelli carried West Amwell by just over two points in 2025.