Chiaravalloti, McKnight annihilate Kopko, Mendoza in LD-31 Assembly race

After a contentious campaign where a Republican candidate uncharacteristically showed a pulse, Nicholas Chiravalloti and Angela McKnight once again won big for the Hudson County Democratic Organization. 

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Although Matthew Kopko, one the District 31 Republican Assembly nominees, hit his Democratic counterparts with everything including the kitchen sink, it apparently made absolutely no difference at the polls.

McKnight and Chiaravalloti, similar to what they did in the June 2 Democratic primary, absolutely slaughtered the competition – defeating the opposition by close to a 3-to-1 margin.

Independent candidate Anthony Zanowic and Alejandro Rodriguez both pulled less than 5 percent of the vote.

The Democratic duo, which was backed by almost the entire South Hudson portion of the HCDO including Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, will replace Assemblymen Charles Mainor and Jason O’Donnell.

Hudson County View’s Jeannette Josue attended both events hosted by Kopko and Chiaravalloti.

Outside of Houlihans in Bayonne, Kopko told Hudson County View, “Look my focus is going to be what’s best for the district going forward, I am not going anywhere I am going to keep a watchful eye on the people who are pulling a fast one on the people of Hudson County. Angela and Nick are just more the same. I pray for them and I pray that they will do what’s right for the people of NJ.”

At San Vito’s in Bayonne, Chiaravalloti addressed all of his supporters after the unofficial results were tallied. “The assembly race is over. We won Bayonne and Ward A, Ward B and Ward F (in Jersey City). It’s another big victory for the democrats.”

Unofficial Results from the Hudson County Clerk’s Office:

General Assembly 31st District
154/161 95.65%
Vote Count Percent
REP – Matthew Kopko 3,808 14.33%
REP – Herminio Mendoza 2,541 9.56%
DEM – Angela V. McKnight 9,343 35.15%
DEM – Nicholas Chiaravalloti 8,993 33.83%
NBP – Anthony Zanowic 946 3.56%
NBP – Alejandro Rodriguez 916 3.45%
Personal Choice 32 0.12%
Total 26,579 100.00%