Linda Schwager Archives - New Jersey Globe

A look at federal, county and municipal races in Bergen County in 2026

August 5, 2026 6:52 amAugust 4, 2026 8:40 pm

For generations, Bergen County was the place where Republican statewide campaigns lived or died. Before Chris Christie rewrote New Jersey’s electoral map in 2009 by running up enormous margins in the fast-growing Republican counties of Ocean, Monmouth and Morris –...

Juliano wins massive support in bid for re-election

May 6, 2026 10:10 pm

Paul Juliano looks like a sure bet for re-election as Bergen County Democratic chairman after securing endorsements from 58 municipal chairs and a long list of federal, state, county, and municipal elected officials. Juliano, who has chaired the county organization...

In Bergen, it’s septuagenarian vs. octogenarian

March 19, 2026 8:36 pmMarch 19, 2026 8:38 pm

Bergen County Republicans have recruited 82-year-old retired Superior Court Judge Joseph S. Conte as their candidate for Surrogate, potentially pitting him against Democrat Linda Schwager, the 77-year-old former mayor of Oakland. The longtime incumbent, Democrat Michael Dressler, died last December....

Was a New Jersey special election the canary in the coal mine for Democrats?

March 12, 2026 8:17 pmMarch 13, 2026 12:39 pm

In a town where Republicans usually measure victory by how large the margin is, not whether they win, the results of a special election in Oakland on Tuesday could portend big trouble for down-ballot GOP candidates in the November midterm...

Bergen Democrats pick 77-year-old ex-mayor to run for Surrogate

March 4, 2026 2:09 pmMarch 4, 2026 11:08 pm

Former Oakland Mayor Linda Schwager is now the endorsed candidate for Bergen County Surrogate after winning the party’s convention without opposition last night. The longtime incumbent, Michael Dressler, died on December 4. Schwager will turn 78 before the end of...

Ex-Oakland mayor seeking support for Bergen Surrogate

February 4, 2026 2:55 pmFebruary 4, 2026 3:49 pm

Bergen County Democrats are increasingly looking at former Oakland Mayor Linda Schwager as a candidate for Surrogate to replace Michael Dressler, the longtime Democratic incumbent who died on December 4 Bergenfield Mayor Arvin Amatorio has been seeking party support for Surrogate, and...

McCann set for comeback after Oakland councilman resigns

April 29, 2022 1:50 pm

Republican Grant Van Eck resigned his seat on the Oakland Borough Council on Friday, eight months short of the expiration of his current term. The 37-year-old Van Eck is moving to Bridgewater. He was not a candidate for re-election this...