Former News 12 New Jersey reporter Alex Zdan scored his second organization line tonight, winning the endorsement of the Passaic County Republican Screening Committee.
The Passaic GOP also endorsed U.S. Air Force veteran Billy Prempeh for a rematch with Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) in the 9th district.
Paramus school board member George Song got the organization line to take on Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) in the 5th and Joseph Belnome, a Belleville building inspector, to run against Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) in the 11th.
County Commissioner Nicolino Gallo, the lone Republican in countywide office, will run with Dr. Assad Mujtaba and William Cytowicz. Republicans have not yet picked their candidate for sheriff and could be waiting to see what the Democrats do in the special election to replace the late Richard Berdnik. Their 2022 candidate, Mason Maher, is running as a Democrat.
“With President Trump leading our ticket, Passaic County’s Republican representation is set to embody a dynamic and diverse array of expertise and leadership. Our candidates are not only exceptionally qualified but are also dedicated to serving the interests of all community members with unwavering commitment,” said GOP County Chairman Peter Murphy. “They are equipped with the strength, leadership, and proven track records necessary to meet the challenges ahead and deliver positive results.”
Zdan won the Monmouth County Republican convention last week. Prempeh, who won 44% against Pascrell two years ago, also received the recommendation of the Bergen County Republican Policy Committee.
But in the race against Gottheimer, Passaic Republicans went in a different direction, picking Song over Mary Jo Guinchard, the winner of the policy committee vote. Bergen’s convention is on March 19.