Democrats Still Lead Essex County Freeholder Race: Election 2020

This story was updated at 11:45 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12.

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Polls have closed and ballots are being counted for the 2020 general election in New Jersey, which took place mostly via mail due to the coronavirus.

In addition to national, state and local races, Essex County residents voted for the recently renamed Board of County Commissioners, formerly known as the "freeholders," as well as the county clerk. As of Nov. 11, every Democratic county candidate held a lead in their respective races.

It’s not clear when certified results will be released in Essex County. Due to the pandemic, mail-in ballots postmarked on Nov. 3 were accepted by the clerk’s office until Nov. 10, the same day provisional ballots were counted. The clerk has until Nov. 20 to certify the results and remit them to state officials.

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COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

All nine seats on the board of commissioners were up for grabs this year. Each term lasts three years.

The following four incumbent Democrats defended their at-large seats: Brendan Gill, Romaine Graham, Rufus Johnson and Patricia Sebold. They faced Republican challengers Alexandra Campisi, Gynise Gotto, Monique Headen and Bernarda Quezada.

There were also five district seats on the board up for election, each occupied by Democrats: Robert Mercado (District 1), Wayne Richardson (District 2), Tyshammie Cooper (District 3), Leonard Luciano (District 4) and Carlos Pomares (District 5). The only challenger to make the ballot was Adam Kraemer, who ran as a Republican against Luciano in District 4.

Here are the unofficial results as of 3:14 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Essex County Clerk’s Office:

At Large (four open seats)

• Brendan Gill - 219,459
• Romaine Graham - 215,770
• Rufus Johnson - 218,279
• Patricia Sebold - 220,775
• Alexandra Campisi - 66,798
• Gynise Gotto - 64,737
• Monique Headen - 64,730
• Bernarda Quezada - 64,223

District 1

• Robert Mercado - 22,853

District 2

• Wayne Richardson - 46,354

District 3

• Tyshammie Cooper - 46,935

District 4 (one open seat)

• Leonard Luciano - 53,069
• Adam Kraemer - 34,748

District 5

• Carlos Pomares - 55,365

COUNTY CLERK

Incumbent Christopher Durkin, the Democratic Party nominee, defended his position as Essex County clerk against Kristina Christoforou, who earned the Republican Party nomination in the primary election. The victor will serve a five-year term.

Here are the unofficial results as of 3:14 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Essex County Clerk’s Office:

• Christopher Durkin - 229,827
• Kristina Christoforou - 62,664

For full coverage of the 2020 election in New Jersey, go here: New Jersey Elections 2020

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