BY WALTER ELLIOTT
NEWARK – Now that the June 4 major party primary elections have been tallied and – as of press time – appears headed for County Clerk Christopher Durkin’s June 18 certification, one can step back and see some trends.
The self-identified registered voting members of the Democratic and Republican parties have spoken their peace – and a majority thereof tended to keep their mostly incumbent officeholders in place for Nov. 5’s General Election.
But that generality glosses over some interesting facets. They include party leaders needed to replace their posthumous candidate. Party voters turning back “insurgent” candidates. Then there was the Presidential party “Uncommitted” effect and, in the municipal races, one-and-a-half upsets of incumbents.
“Uncommitted” becomes “Best of the Rest.”
In Essex County, the category used to protest President Joseph R. Biden’s policy on the Israeli-Hamas War came in second – between Biden and Democrats for Life candidate Terrisa Bukovinac.
President Biden received 419,512 countywide votes for 88.5 percent of that primary vote. Uncommitted tallied 41,461 or 8.7 percent. Bukovinac drew 13,250 or 2,8 percent.
By voting uncommitted, Democratic National Party officials will have more delegates who want to open discussion on enacting a ceasefire, cutting arms and other supplies to the Israeli Defence Force, recognizing a Palestinian state and related issues.
With Uncommitted on 18 of the state’s 20 democratic delegate districts, over 40,000 voters, or nine percent statewide, voted for that option. A Democratic delegate needs at least 15 percent to join the Democratic National Convention.
The big questions are whether Uncommitted will be on the Nov. 5 ballot, will that percentage grow in the Nov. 5 results and at which candidate’s expense.
Will the Block Ballot Stay for Keeps?
New Jersey’s Democratic voters got their first, federal court ordered, taste of the block ballot design over the long traditional County / Party Line design.
Given that most of the Democratic Party-endorsed candidates were drawn to the top of their blocks, there was little if any changes in the primary outcome. This has caused some “good government” groups to call for replacing the blind paper-in-a-drum drawing method to ones drawn by computer algorithm.
There is a pending court case in the US Court of Appeals in Philadelphia later this year that may force New Jersey to join the other 49 states in using the block ballot.
Rep. Andy Kim (D-Bordentown), now-Democratic Party candidate for U.S. Senate, appears to be the beneficiary of the change. Kim started the year as a challenger to the party establishment-endorsed Tammy Murphy. He was bracketed with Dr. Patricia Campos-Medina and Lawrence “Larry” Hamm as Murphy’s challengers.
Kim and Campos-Medina filed suit in Philadelphia to overturn the County/Party ballot line on Constitutional grounds.
By March 28, a Third Circuit judge directed the state county clerks to use the “new” design for the Democratic Primary. Then T. Murphy, after several county endorsement splits, withdrew from the race.
Kim, all of a sudden, became the frontrunner – which bore out in Essex County and statewide primary results.
Democrats, After Hailing the Late Cong. Payne, Seek F/T Runner.
Those who voted for the late Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-Newark) June 4, even though he had died April 24, gave the seven-term Congressman a posthumous victory lap.
Democratic officials among the Essex, Hudson and Union county towns in Payne’s 10 Congressional District, will have to organize a mini-convention before Aug. 29 to pick one of their own to run what could have been Payne’s seventh full two-year term.
The conventioneers may choose Newark Council President LaMonica McIver – who is their endorsee for the July 17 special primary election. McIver, who is also the two-term Central Ward Councilwoman, is on the ballot for the two-stage special election that will complete the late Payne’s unexpired term through Jan. 9.
Democrats do not want a vacant seat on Capitol Hill, given the narrow Republican Party majority in the House and a similar Democratic majority in the Senate.
McIver is being challenged by one or two other balloted July 17 candidates – so the process is not a slam dunk for her or the party.
“Establishment” Beats Back “Insurgents.”
There were several races where organized party factions tried to make gains on their established leadership.
Gary Nash, who ran for the Essex County Sheriff nomination, was the technical head of “Democrats United for Change and Integrity.” “Democrats United” also fielded Bloomfield Mayor Ted Gamble for re-election and Rodney P. Cauthen as At-Large Councilman.
Nash garnered 7,241 votes, or 16.46 percent) June 4 for sheriff. The ECDC-backed Amir Jones got the nomination with 36,762 or 83.54 percent.
“America First Republicans” meanwhile sought to make inroads on the Essex County Republican Party Organization. “America First” closely identifies with the policies and beliefs of former President Donald J. Trump.
Their Sheriff primary candidate, Robert Bianco, drew 1,783 or 26 percent against nominee Nicholas Pasini’s 36, 762 or 83.54.
Their County Registrar runner, Scott D. Pollac, fell short to nominee Sgt. Jeffrey M. Plewka; 4,942 or 73 percent to 1,824 or 27.
You Can “Beat City Hall” in Maplewood
Former Reuters reporter Malia Herman scored an upset in the Maplewood Township Committee Democratic Party.
Herman, at 2,433 or 35.15, placed second to Mayor and Maplewood Democratic Committee ticket head Nancy Adams’ 2,558 or 36.78. Herman upset one-term Deputy Mayor Jermaine L. Cripe’s 1,954 or 28.
A Gamble on Venezia’s Pick
Bloomfield party voters, on the surface, upset now-outgoing Mayor Ted Gamble by selecting Councilwoman Jenny Mundell. Mundell was Bloomfield Democratic Committee-backed while Gamble was on the “Democrats United” ticket.
A majority of Township Council Members appointed Gamble over Mundell as mayor in January when then-Mayor Michael Venezia took up his new job as State Assemblyman. Venezia, who is still the party chairman, favored Mundell.
Voters gave Mundell 2,605 or 57.4 over Gamble’s 1,934 or 42.6.
BDC-backed Monica Charris-Tabares turned back Democrats United’s Rodney P. Cauthen 3,027 or 69.8 to 1,307 or 30.2.
