It's Primary Election Day With Minimal Drama In Hudson County

If you didn’t take advantage over the weekend of early voting, then today’s your day to go to the polls to cast your ballot in the Democratic or Republican Primary Election.  Polls will remain open until 8 o’clock this evening.

In Hudson County there are state, county and municipal races, but there’s very little drama anticipated, although there are some contested races.

On the municipal level, the tiny municipality of East Newark sees a contested race for the office of Mayor on the Democratic side.  Incumbent Dina Grilo faces a challenge from Councilwoman Jessica Diaz.  Mayor Grilo has the endorsement of the Hudson County Democratic Organization.  There are no Republican candidates running for Mayor, so the winner will have a clear path to victory in the November General Election.

There are no Republican candidates running for the two, At Large Council seats in East Newark, so the two Democrats also have a clear path to victory in November.

There’s a similar situation with the four Ward Council seats in Harrison.  No Republican candidates are on the ballot, so the four Democrats have a clear path to November’s General Election.

With Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise having decided not to seek another term, and with no Republican candidate on the Primary ballot, today’s winner of the Democratic Primary is virtually assured victory in November.  The Hudson County Democratic Organization is backing DeGise’s Chief of Staff Craig Guy.  Eleana Little is challenging Guy, running as a Progressive Democrat.

In the races for Hudson County Commissioner, formally known as Freeholders, there are contested races in the Democratic Primary in Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9, with one challenger running as a Progressive Democratic squaring off against the incumbent, all of who are supported by the HCDO.

On the Republican side, there is one candidate running in Districts 1, 5 and 9.

Finally, the public will vote for New Jersey State Legislative candidates for the Assembly and Senate.  The recent redistricting shifted around some of the towns and added the 29th District into Hudson County’s mix, joining District’s 31, 32 and 33.

There is only one contested race among the four Senate districts.  It’s on the Democratic side in District 31, where Assemblywoman Angela McKnight, who has the support of the HCDO in her bid to move up to the Senate, faces a challenge from Michael Griffin.

In the Democratic Primary for Assembly, there is a challenge in District 31.  The HCDO is supporting incumbent William Sampson and newcomer Barbara McCann Stamato.  Shanelle Smith is challenging for one of the two Assembly seats.

There is no opposition in any of the other Assembly Districts, with no Republican candidates in District 33.