With several important races on the ballot, Hudson County Election Day turnout is at about six percent ahead of a potential post-work rush, colored by heavy turnout for early voting and vote-by-mails, as well as rain through lunch time.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
26,000 votes have been cast on machines countywide as of approximately 3:30 p.m, according to Hudson County Board of Elections Clerk Michael Harper.
That does not include roughly 17,000 voters who case their ballots early, nor the roughly 1,500 who voted by mail, Harper noted. Jersey City had the highest early vote and VBM tallies statewide, data shows.
In the gubernatorial contest, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop looks to pull off an upset against U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11), who has the backing of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, along with nine other Dem committee.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney are also seeking the Democratic nomination.
Additionally, Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari is seeking a sixth term on Fulop’s “Democrats for Change” slate against Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, who is running with the HCDO.
All six state Assembly seats across three districts are also up for grabs.
In the 31st Legislative District, Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato and Bayonne 2nd Ward Councilwoman Jackie Weimmer, backed by Fulop, are facing off with the HCDO’s Assemblyman Will Sampson and Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker (D-3).
In what many politicos statewide view as the premiere Assembly race to watch, the 32nd Legislative District has six candidates.
The HCDO is supporting Jennie Pu and Crystal Fonseca, Fulop is with Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez and Jersey City Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh, and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla is running with Jersey City activist Katie Brennan.
Finally, the 33rd Legislative District pits Tony Hector and Frank Alonso, on the “Democrats for Change” ticket, against the HCDO-based Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez and Larry Wainstein.
This grudge match is not for the feint of heart, since it is another proxy battle between state Senator/Union City Mayor Brian Stack, who is with the HCDO, and North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, who is with Fulop.
There are also uncontested mayor and town council races in Guttenberg and Kearny, respectively.
The polls are open until 8 p.m. and locations can be found here.
