Flynn Wins GOP Endorsement, Beats Incumbent DiMaso

HOLMDEL, NJ - Victoria “Vicky” Flynn, the Holmdel Board of Education President and 2020 Holmdel Township Committee candidate, defeated incumbent Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso on Thursday for the Republican endorsement for Assembly in New Jersey's 13th legislative district.

The results were announced at a virtual nominating convention of the Monmouth Republican County Committee. Gerry Scharfenberger, another incumbent, won the second nomination.

Flynn is a practicing attorney, the president of the Holmdel Board of Education and a 2020 Holmdel Township Committee candidate (she was ultimately beat out for a seat by current mayor Greg Buontempo). Earlier this month, the Holmdel Township Committee endorsed Flynn, calling the Assembly hopeful a “natural consensus-builder with an undeniable track record of supporting women in leadership positions”:

“Vicky has shined a bright light on the need for strong Republican leadership at the Statehouse - it's the only way for New Jersey to emerge from this pandemic better and stronger than before,” the committee said in a statement. “We need a leader like Vicky who will stand-up against Murphy’s COVID policies that have strangled our small businesses, contributed to [the] deaths of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens and failed to assist schools so that they can open their buildings to students and teachers throughout the State.”

The unofficial votes were as follows:

Gerry Scharfenberger: 213

Vicky Flynn: 145

Serena DiMaso: 87

“I am overwhelmed and humbled with the support I have received in this campaign,” Flynn said in a statement, per New Jersey Globe. “I would like to thank the entire Monmouth County Republican Committee for their endorsement tonight. I am excited to join our great Monmouth County Republican leaders – Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger – on the LD13 ticket this year. I look forward to a spirited campaign in 2021 and will work hard to earn every vote.”

DiMaso - who previously served as the mayor of Holmdel and a Monmouth County Freeholder - was endorsed by Monmouth County Commissioner Lillian Burry and Kim Guadagno, the former Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey under Chris Christie. Flynn was endorsed by Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, who serves as chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Organization.

Read more: Monmouth County GOP Kicks DiMaso To Curb In NJ 13 Race

According to a tweet from NJ.com reporter Matt Friedman, DiMaso has claimed that she will go forth and run independently in the primaries: "I will turn my attention to June, where every Republican vote and voter will have a chance to voice their opinion on my record and the record of my opponents,” the tweet reads.

"I'm disappointed with the alleged results and the manner in which the county committee in Monmouth County and LD13 were treated,” DiMaso later wrote in a Facebook post, per TAPInto Holmdel. “There were significant flaws and irregularities in the way in which this election was conducted. I'll defer to my attorneys for additional comment."

The 13th legislative district includes Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Marlboro, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright, Rumson and Union Beach.

Erin Howard and Allison Friedman are the Democrats vying for the two LD-13 Assembly seats this year. Democrat Vincent "Vinny" Solomeno will challenge Declan O'Scanlon for the area's state Senate seat.