The Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) swept in the 31st Legislative District Assembly race with incumbent Will Sampson winning, while Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla is retaining second place in the 32nd Legislative District Assembly contest.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Sampson bested his 2023 running mate, Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato by 198 votes – 7,523 to 7,325 – according to the latest tallies from the Hudson County Clerk’s Office.
While there are still outstanding provisional ballots to be delivered to the board of elections tomorrow morning, as well as a nominal number of vote-by-mail ballots to be tabulated, McCann Stamato, who ran on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s ticket, has conceded.
“In this current political climate, it is more important than ever that we elect strong Democrats up and down the ballot,” she said in a statement.
“As chairwoman of the Jersey City Democratic Committee, I remain committed to doing my part to ensure Democratic victories across the board.”
Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker (D-3), Sampson’s running mate, was the top vote getter with 8,869 votes, good enough to declare victory on election night.
The HCDO won the Hudson County sheriff’s race, with Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis defeating incumbent Frank Schillari, as HCV first reported.
They also dominated the 33rd Legislative District race that was won by Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez and Larry Wainstein. That victory was due to the efforts of state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack.
However, the one race where they didn’t have any success was in the 32nd Legislative District, where Katie Brennan was the top vote getter and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla has been clinging to a tight win over Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez since Tuesday night.
New tallies show him leading the incumbent 7,012 to 6,833: 179 votes. The Associated Press is yet to call that race, but the odds are clearly strongly in his favor.
Brennan and Bhalla, who were endorsed by Ward E Councilman James Solomon, a mayoral candidate, had declared victory late Tuesday evening.
“The message Tuesday night was loud and clear: voters want change. I am thrilled to congratulate Katie Brennan and Mayor Ravi Bhalla on their impressive victory in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 32nd Legislative District,” Solomon said in a statement.
“Their win is a testament to their dedication and to the power of grassroots campaigning, as they successfully overcame the entrenched Hudson County political machine. I was proud to endorse both candidates, knowing they stand for the change our communities need. Together, we are going to fight for affordable housing, better transport, transparent government, better schools, and improved quality of life for everyone. This victory is not just theirs; it is a victory for all of us who believe in a brighter, more equitable future.”
In LD-32, Ramirez ran with Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh on Fulop’s slate. Saleh came in fifth place, while Jennie Pu, who ran with the HCDO, finished in fourth. Her running mate Crystal Fonseca, finished in last place.
