Riggin wins sheriff, Bender takes clerk’s office and Mullock unseats Van Drew as Democrats gain ground across the region
By Cindy Christy Fertsch
Democrat Zack Mullock’s victory over U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew highlighted a sweeping election night Nov. 3 as Atlantic County voters also elected Democrats to the offices of sheriff and county clerk, replaced three Republican county commissioners and handed Democrats control of two township committees.
The results leave Republicans holding a 5-4 majority on the nine-member Board of County Commissioners, down from their previous 8-1 advantage. Although the GOP retains control of the board, the election expands Democratic representation and brings new leadership to offices responsible for law enforcement and election administration.
The changes extended beyond county government. Democrats captured governing majorities in Egg Harbor Township and Hamilton Township, while Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew in the region’s congressional contest.
Reported returns remain unofficial as of this writing, pending the counting of outstanding eligible ballots and certification.
Riggin prepares for sheriff’s transition
Democrat Sean Riggin, Atlantic City’s public safety director and a former Pleasantville police chief, defeated incumbent Republican Sheriff Joseph “Tokyo Joe” O’Donoghue.
Reported totals showed Riggin with 48,980 votes and O’Donoghue with 42,476, a difference of 6,504.
The victory returns the sheriff’s office to Democratic leadership three years after O’Donoghue defeated Democratic incumbent Eric Scheffler.
O’Donoghue conceded in a Facebook video, congratulating Riggin and promising to assist with a smooth transition.
Riggin told BreakingAC he intends to work with police chiefs, mayors, officers and community organizations across the county. He also credited Atlantic City residents with helping secure his victory.
His incoming administration is expected to include retired Atlantic City Deputy Police Chief Bridget Pierce as Atlantic County’s first female undersheriff. Pierce previously became Atlantic City’s first female deputy chief. A Republican, Pierce supported Riggin’s campaign and is his choice for a senior leadership role despite their different party affiliations.
Riggin’s background includes six years leading the Pleasantville Police Department and service in the U.S. Army. He served in Bosnia in 1996 during Operation Joint Endeavor.
New leadership in clerk’s office
Democrat Lisa Bender defeated Republican incumbent Joseph Giralo in the county clerk’s race, receiving 49,443 votes to Giralo’s 41,830 in reported returns.The margin was 7,613 votes.
Bender’s victory reverses another recent Republican gain. Giralo won the office in 2021 after longtime Democratic Clerk Ed McGettigan declined to seek reelection.
The clerk’s office handles several elements of election administration, including vote-by-mail applications and ballots, candidate filings, ballot preparation and certification of results. Its responsibilities make the transition separate from, but closely connected to, the broader changes in county government.
Commissioner races tighten county control
Democrats won both at-large commissioner seats on the ballot and the District 3 seat, replacing three Republican incumbents.
Jonathan Marcellus led the at-large field with 49,727 votes, followed by fellow Democrat Kyle Gornick with 49,542. Republican incumbents John Risley Jr. and June Byrnes received 41,033 and 40,368 votes, respectively.
In District 3, Democrat Richard Healey defeated Republican incumbent Andrew Parker, 10,651 votes to 8,628.
The county board’s nine commissioners serve staggered terms, with four elected countywide and five representing districts. This year’s results increase the number of Democratic commissioners from one to four.
Republicans will retain a numerical majority, but the narrower division leaves substantially less room for disagreement within the majority party when votes split along party lines.
Township committees change hands
In Egg Harbor Township, Democrats swept all three committee contests.
Juanita Hyman and Tamika Gilbert-Floyd defeated Republican incumbents Laura Pfrommer and Paul Hodson for full terms. Democrat Anthony Calandrillo defeated Republican Patrick Ireland for a one-year unexpired term.
Hyman received 9,072 votes and Gilbert-Floyd received 9,049. Pfrommer finished with 7,676 and Hodson with 7,650. Calandrillo received 9,007 votes to Ireland’s 7,553.
The victories overturned the Republicans’ previous 4-1 committee majority.
Hamilton Township also changed control. Democrat Maria Newman defeated Republican incumbent Eric Aiken, giving Democrats a 3-2 majority. Newman is a real estate broker and former township school board member.
In Egg Harbor City, Democrats Karl Timbers, Steven Ortiz and Nate Ross won the three Common Council seats contested.
Congressional upset adds to regional shift
Van Drew’s concession to Mullock brought another major change for South Jersey. The Republican incumbent had been seeking a fifth House term.
Van Drew first won the congressional seat as a Democrat in 2018 and switched parties in 2019. Mullock’s victory returns the seat to Democratic hands.
The 2nd Congressional District includes all of Atlantic and Cape May counties, along with other South Jersey communities.
Together, the congressional, county and municipal outcomes establish a different governing landscape for the region, with new officeholders preparing to assume responsibilities and Republicans facing a much narrower majority on Atlantic County’s commissioner board.
