Your handy breakdown of the national, county, and local races for Tuesday’s primary elections.
By Matt Skoufalos | June 6, 2023
The chief function of New Jersey primary elections is to determine which candidates from each of New Jersey’s political parties will represent them in the general election November 7, 2023.
In addition, the primaries also decide which members of various factions within a given party will join their respective state and county organizing committees.
New Jersey has closed primaries, which means voters must declare their affiliations for a party in order to participate. Registered, unaffiliated voters may participate, provided they have never previously declared a party affiliation, or are first-time primary election voters.
Photo by Parker Johnson on Unsplash – https://goo.gl/yFknSf.
What’s at Stake
In this election, New Jersey voters will select the candidates who will represent them in state, county, and local races this fall.
The most prominent of these races are the New Jersey state legislative elections, in which voters will elect their representatives in the state Senate and General Assembly.
Camden County voters will also select candidates for two open seats on the Board of County Commissioners.
Only a handful of communities in our coverage area — Audubon Park, Cherry Hill, Haddon Heights, Merchantville, Oaklyn, and Pennsauken — will nominate candidates for positions on their local governing bodies, but none of these races is contested intra-party at the primary level.
Primary ballots also include nominations of committee members to the state and local Democratic and Republican parties.
New Jersey State Senate & General Assembly Races
Fifth Legislative District
New Jersey’s Fifth Legislative District spans Camden and Gloucester Counties, representing voters in Audubon, Audubon Park, Barrington, Bellmawr, Brooklawn, Camden, Deptford, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Harrison Township, Lawnside, Magnolia, Mantua, Mount Ephraim, Runnemede, Wenonah, Westville, Woodbury, and Woodlynne.
On the Democratic ticket, incumbent Democrat Nilsa Cruz-Perez faces no challenger from within her own party for her 5th District State Senate seat; neither do incumbent Democratic Assemblymen William F. Moen and William W. Spearman.
On the Republican ticket, former Woodlynne councilman Clyde Cook faces no balloted opposition in his path to challenge for the 5th District State Senate seat.
Similarly, real estate agent Joe Miller of Audubon and child care provider Yalinda Pagan of Camden City will seek two available seats in the 5th District General Assembly without facing any balloted opponents from within their own party.
Sixth Legislative District
New Jersey’s Sixth Legislative District spans Camden and Gloucester Counties, representing voters in Berlin Township, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, Haddon Township, Haddonfield, Hi-Nella, Maple Shade, Merchantville, Oaklyn, Pennsauken, Somerdale, Stratford, Tavistock, and Voorhees.
On the Democratic ticket, incumbent Democrat James Beach faces no challenger from within his own party for his 6th District State Senate seat; neither do incumbent Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald and Assembly Deputy Speaker Pamela Lampitt.
On the Republican ticket, no candidate filed a petition to run for the 5th District State Senate seat.
Republican candidates Daniel M. Kenny and Danielle M. Barry will challenge for two seats in the 6th District General Assembly without facing any balloted opponents from within their own party.
Camden County Commissioners Race
Two seats are up for grabs on the Camden County Board of Commissioners.
Incumbent Democratic Commissioner-Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. and Commissioner Jonathan Young face challenges from Kate Delany and Samuel Sweet of the South Jersey Progressive Democrats.
Facing no opponents from within their own party are Republicans Jason Fanning and Norman C. Rebel.
Local Races
In Audubon Park, Democrats Judith DiPasquale and Karen Lewis face no balloted opposition from within their own party for two seats on the local government council; neither has any Republican filed a petition seeking office.
In Cherry Hill, Democratic Council President David Fleischer faces no party opponent in his push for township mayor; neither do incumbent township council Democrats Michele Golkow, Brian Bauerle, and Jennifer Apell face any balloted opponent in the primary.
In the November general election, they’ll face Republican mayoral hopeful Nicole Nance and council challengers David Lodge, Dianne Carr, and Rossana Parsons, respectively.
In Haddon Heights, incumbent Democratic mayor Zach Houck will seek re-election after his first term in office concludes, as will incumbent councilwomen Regina Philipps and Trisha Egbert. None of them faces any balloted opposition from within their own party.
In November, they’ll face Republican mayoral hopeful Jennifer Moore and council challengers Kevin Ehret and Denise Bolognese, respectively, in the general election.
In Merchantville, incumbent Democratic Councilman Andrew McLoone and Sean Fitzgerald face no balloted opposition from within their own party; neither has any Republican filed a petition seeking office.
In Oaklyn, incumbent Democratic mayor Greg Brandley faces no balloted opposition in the first step of his bid for re-election, and neither do his fellow Democratic council members Dorothy Valianti and Charles Lehman. No Republican has filed a petition seeking any local office.
In Pennsauken, Marie McKenna faces no opposition from within her party in a bid for an unexpired term on township council; neither do her fellow Democrats Vince Martinez and Patrick Olivo. No Republican has filed a petition seeking any local office.
Voter Information
Scroll down for links to your local sample ballot. Polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. statewide on Tuesday, June 6. After you vote, come back and check with NJ Pen for the results as they come in.
- Not sure which is your polling place? Here’s how to find your polling place by address.
- Not sure if you’re registered to vote? This tool can help you determine if you’re ready to head to the booth.
- Polling place problem? Questions? Call the Board of Elections at 856-401-8683.
