NJ 39th District Senate Results: Latest Vote Totals

This story was updated at 11:05 p.m.

NORTH JERSEY — The polls are closed, and votes are being counted in the race for New Jersey's 39th District Senate seat.

The legacy of Gerald Cardinale looms large over this race, as it will be the first time in decades that Cardinale won't be re-elected. Read more: Longtime NJ Senate Republican Gerald Cardinale Dead At 86

Ruth Dugan, a Democrat, and Holly Schepisi, a Republican, will vie for the seat in this year's election. Unofficial, partial vote totals have been reported in Bergen and Passaic County. They are as follows:

Passaic County

• Ruth Dugan, D — 299
• Holly Schepisi, R — 216

Bergen County

• Ruth Dugan, D — 3,017
• Holly Schepisi, R — 5,353

However, due to the uncontested nature of this race, the Associated Press has declared both candidates as winners in their respective primaries.

Schepisi became the first female senator from Bergen County to represent the 39th District when she took the oath of office in April, and will run for the seat again.

"It's an honor to continue serving the people of Bergen and Passaic counties in my new role in the New Jersey Senate," said Senator Schepisi. "I'll do my best to build upon Senator Cardinale's legacy and continue the fight for affordability and opportunity for all of our constituents."

But she does have a democratic challenger in Ruth Dugan.

Dugan, 73, a resident of Saddle River, has also had a long career in public service, and will seek to win the seat in this year's election.

"I'm running for the Senate because after working as the Chief of Staff for Ray Garramone, the first Democratic Senator in District 39, I know what effective leadership can achieve in this district," she said, in a Patch Q&A.

"With our current representatives, I see the lack of progress, I see the inability to identify problems and work across the aisle to improve the lives of the residents in District 39, and I plan on changing that. The people of NJ deserve better and I look forward to working together to find solutions to the issues facing our neighbors."

Read more: Election Profile: Ruth Dugan For NJ State Senate

Dugan was joined by Senate candidate Ruth Dugan at a polling site in Westwood on Tuesday, even amid storms in the area.

The Tuesday election will determine a party nomination, and the results are unofficial until certified by the county clerk.

Patch will update this story as results come in.

Return to Patch tonight for the latest vote tally. Subscribe to free News Alerts for election results.