Democrats captured the Atlantic County sheriff’s and clerk’s offices and all three county commissioner seats on the ballot Nov. 3, cutting into Republican control of county government and gaining ground in municipal races.
The results will reduce the Republican majority on the nine-member Board of County Commissioners from 8-1 to 5-4. Democrats also secured governing majorities in Egg Harbor Township and Hamilton Township.
Sean Riggin, a Democrat who serves as Atlantic City’s public safety director and previously led the Pleasantville Police Department, defeated Republican Sheriff Joseph “Tokyo Joe” O’Donoghue. Riggin received 48,980 votes to O’Donoghue’s 42,476.
Democrat Lisa Bender won the county clerk’s race, defeating Republican incumbent Joseph Giralo, 49,443 votes to 41,830.
The commissioner contests accounted for another significant shift. Democrats Jonathan Marcellus and Kyle Gornick captured the two at-large seats, ousting Republican incumbents John Risley Jr. and June Byrnes.
Marcellus received 49,727 votes and Gornick received 49,542. Risley finished with 41,033 votes, while Byrnes received 40,368.
In District 3, Democrat Richard Healey defeated Republican incumbent Andrew Parker, 10,651 votes to 8,628. The three victories expand Democratic representation on the county board from one member to four.
The region’s congressional race also delivered a change in leadership. Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew conceded to Democratic challenger Zack Mullock, Cape May’s mayor, in New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes all of Atlantic and Cape May counties.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker also won reelection.
Municipal results brought additional Democratic gains, though Republicans retained seats in several communities. Among the reported winners:
Absecon: Republican Alex Clark won reelection to his Ward 1 council seat. Democrat Gloria Seel defeated Republican incumbent Christine Parker in Ward 2.
Buena Vista Township: Republican William Ruggieri defeated Democrat Ronald Stone for a Township Committee seat.
Egg Harbor City: Democrats Karl Timbers, Steven Ortiz and Nate Ross won Common Council seats.
Egg Harbor Township: Democrats Juanita Hyman and Tamika Gilbert-Floyd defeated Republican incumbents Laura Pfrommer and Paul Hodson for full Township Committee terms. Democrat Anthony Calandrillo defeated Republican Patrick Ireland for a one-year unexpired term. The sweep gave Democrats control of the committee.
Hamilton Township: Democrat Maria Newman defeated Republican incumbent Eric Aiken, giving Democrats a 3-2 Township Committee majority.
Mullica Township: Democrat Beth Schroeder Buonsante defeated Republican Thomas C. Braun for a Township Committee seat.
Northfield: Democrat Joan Brennan defeated Republican incumbent David Notaro for the Ward 1 council seat.
The county races leave Republicans with a narrower path to advancing their agenda on the commissioner board, while Democrats will assume responsibility for the sheriff’s and clerk’s offices. At the municipal level, the new majorities in Egg Harbor Township and Hamilton Township will give Democrats control over those communities’ governing bodies.
Results remain unofficial pending the counting of outstanding eligible ballots and formal certification.
