By Walter Elliott
NEWARK – There is at least one Congressional primary race, from among the 11 federal, county and municipal contests “Local Talk” Democratic and Republican voters had decided on June 7, that remains too close to call.
That Republican primary in the 11th Congressional District has Tyfun Selen, of Chatham, and Paul DeGroot, of Montville, some 1,300 votes apart as of June 8. DeGroot and Selen are vying to become the Republican challenger to incumbent Democrat Mikie Sherrill, of Montclair, on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot.
The above contest’s figures – and those as reported by Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin 11:31 p.m. Tuesday night – remain unofficial until June 20.
Durkin’s Election Division staff are accepting Vote By Mail Ballots postmarked on or before June 7 no later than June 13. Provisional ballots that were cast in June 3-5 early voting and June 7 will be counted after all the VBMB have been received and counted.
Participating members of the Republican and Democratic parties faithful had more than their usual share of changes, starting with this election being the first using the 2022-31 Congressional Redistricting Maps. Those maps, supposedly redrawn to reflect population changes both in “Local Talk” Land and throughout the U.S. Those changes stem from data received in the 2020 Census.
Voters may have had to check with Durkin and/or Essex County Superintendent of Elections Linda von Nessi’s offices to check for polling station location. Several stations were open June 3-5 for early in-person voting.
Voters may have found Tuesday’s polling stations quieter than usual if they had voted in a public school.
Several public school districts – including those in Orange and Maplewood-South Orange – decided to have those buildings’ students go onto remote learning.
Durkin, at 11:31 p.m. Tuesday, said that 543 of the 594 countywide voting machine districts had reported their results – which comes out to roughly 90 percent.
US CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Eighth Congressional District (Newark’s East and North wards, Union County’s Elizabeth and 10 Hudson County towns whole or in part.):
Nov. 8’s ballot, independent and minor party candidates’ placement notwithstanding, is to feature Robert J. “Rob” Menendez, Jr. versus Marcus Arroyo.
Menendez, Jr., of Englewood, got the Essex County Democratic voters’ endorsement with 1,451 votes – or 89.18 percent of the vote count. David Ocampo Grajales, of Jersey City, garnered 148 votes or 9.10 percent. Ane Roseborough-Eberhard, of Weehawken, amassed 28 votes for 1.72 percent.
Arroyo, of West New York, received 146 Essex Countywide votes, for 100 percent.
County tallies for write-in candidate Ana Isabel Rivera, of Newark, were not posted as of press time.
Menendez, Arroyo, other balloted candidates and any prospective write-in candidates are vying to succeed retiring incumbent Cong. Albio Sires (D-West New York).
10th CD (Rest of Newark, Irvington, East Orange, Orange, West Orange, Montclair’s Fourth Ward, three “West Essex” towns and “West/Central” Jersey City.):
Incumbent Cong. Donald M. Payne, Jr., of Newark, captured Essex County’s Democratic primary with 14,785 votes for 85.47 percent. Imari Oakley, of Montclair, mustered 1,350 for 7.83. Akil Khalfani, of West Orange, carried 1,155 or 6.70.
David H. Pinckney, of Irvington, got the Republican nod with 914 for 84.24. “Friends of Garth” Stewart, Jersey City, granted 171 for 15.76.
11th CD (South Orange Maplewood, Belleville, Bloomfield, the rest of Montclair, seven “West Essex,” four “Southwestern” Passaic and 25 Morris County towns):
Incumbent Cong. Mikie Sherrill tallied 15,450 Essex County votes – or 100 percent.
A majority of participating Essex County Republican voters gave Selen, of Chatham Township, their preference with 1,486 votes for 33.87 percent. Paul DeGroot, of Montville, came in second at 1,441 for 32.85. Toby Anderson, of Morristown, amassed 1,148 for 26.17. Ruth McAndrew, of Randolph, mustered 225 for 5.13.
Selen also won among the 25 Morris County municipalities in the district. The Morris County Board of Commissioners Director received 8,980 to DeGroot’s 8,026.
DeGroot, however, has unofficially received the overall GOP standard to challenge Sherrill. The 25-year Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office attorney received that county’s GOP endorsement. He received 2,484 votes among the four Passaic County towns to Selen’s 149.
The ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE contest ballot for Nov. 8 appears to be a rematch between incumbent Joseph N. DiVincenzo and challenger Adam Kraemer. DiVincenzo, of Roseland, received the Democratic nomination with all 31,240 votes cast. Adam Kraemer, of West Orange, also carried all 4,813 countywide Republican votes.
Bloomfield and Maplewood’s MUNICIPAL PRIMARIES were single party affairs.
In BLOOMFIELD, incumbent Mayor Michael Venezia’s bid for a third term drew all 2,292 votes for the Democratic party nomination. Venezia’s incumbent At-Large Council running mates also received unchallenged Democratic endorsement.
Wartyna “Tina” Davis was Tuesday’s top vote-getter at 2,269 for 33.98. Richard Rockwell was second with 2,197 for 32.90. Ted Gamble garnered 2,211, for 33.11.
The Bloomfield Republican Party Organization did not field a municipal-level candidate this year.
The MAPLEWOOD TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE’s sole open seat appears to be for Democrat Deborah Engel. Engel received 1,798 votes for 84.61. Kurt H. Kiley carried 327 for 13.89. Kiley conceded to Engel at 10 a.m. June 8.
The Maplewood Township Committee endorsed both Engel and Kiley – and left the choice to the party faithful. The Republican Committee has not fielded a TC candidate since 2017.
Engel – barring a challenge from an independent, minor party or write-in candidate, appears poised to succeed the outgoing Robbie McGehee on Jan. 1.
There were no GLEN RIDGE Borough Council party primary results recorded and there were no Democratic or Republican party candidates on the ballot. Borough voters are saving their picks for Nov. 8. They are also watching for which candidates get the Glen Ridge Civic Conference Committee endorsement.
