Your handy breakdown of the national, state, county, and local races for the June 7 primary elections.
By Matt Skoufalos
Turnout is expected to be significant for November’s elections, in which Americans will choose their leaders at every level of government, right up to the presidency. Tuesday’s primaries will help determine what those ballots look like this fall.
New Jersey has closed primaries, which means that voters must declare their affiliations for either Republican or Democratic parties in order to participate. Registered, unaffiliated voters may declare their party affiliation at the polls.
Clinton, Sanders, Trump. Credit: Gage Skidmore – https://goo.gl/H5THA1.
U.S. Presidential Race
Five U.S. presidential candidates will appear on the ballot for New Jersey voters.
Republicans can choose from among Donald Trump, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, or Ohio Governor John Kasich, however, Cruz and Kasich have already conceded their campaigns.
The Democratic Presidential nomination is still contested, however, among former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Congressman Bernie Sanders.
Law, Norcross, and Patterson are vying for the NJ 1st Congressional District seat. Credit: Law, Norcross, Patterson campaigns.
U.S. Congressional Race
In New Jersey’s First Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Donald Norcross faces a challenge from Voorhees native Alex Law; on the Republican ticket, Bob Patterson of Cherry Hill is running unopposed.
Prior to the publication of the ballot, the Law campaign sued Camden County Clerk Joseph Ripa over an alleged lack of transparency in the candidate bracketing process; his challenge was dismissed in Superior Court. Law also challenged the bracketing of other freeholder candidates who appear on the ballot, according to Politicker NJ.
Norcross appears on the ballot bracketed with Clinton and freeholder candidates Edward McDonnell and Carmen Rodriguez. Law is bracketed with freeholder candidates Steven Kelly and Moneke Ragsdale, but not with any presidential candidate.
From left: Kelly, McDonnell, Ragsdale, and Rodriguez. Credit: Kelly-Ragsdale campaign/Camden County.
Camden County Freeholder Race
Two seats are up for grabs on the county freeholder board, with eight candidates challenging incumbents Edward McDonnell and Carmen Rodriguez (Column Three) on the Democratic ticket.
- In Column One, Thomas Stearns and Kathryn Petner are running under the “Vote for a Better Tomorrow” slogan.
- Column Two features Bernie Sanders delegates Anthony De Stefanis and Franklin Frake.
- In Column Four, under the slogan “The Time for Change is Now,” are Maryann Dunn and Amy La Conte-Smith.
- Barrington PBA president Steven Kelly and Camden community organizer Moneke Ragsdale appear in Column Five.
Republican hopefuls Rob Stone and Claire Gustafson are running unopposed.
Local Races
- In Cherry Hill, Democratic Cherry Hill Councilwoman Carolyn Jacobs is running uncontested for re-election; Republican Rick Short alone will enter the race on his party’s ticket. In November, Short was defeated in a bid for the council seat vacated by Susan Shin Angulo, who won a seat on the Camden County Freeholder Board in the same election. Jacobs was appointed as Angulo’s replacement in January.
- The Haddon Heights primary sets up a contested local election for the fall (and last year’s results were close enough to require a recount). Democrats David Capozzi and Robert B. White, III are running uncontested for two council seats held by Republican incumbents Susan Griffith and Vincent Ceroli, who was appointed after Councilman Earl Miller resigned his seat mid-term.
- Incumbent Merchantville Democratic Councilman Anthony Perno will be joined on the ballot by former Farmers Market coordinator Griffin Kidd, running unopposed for two available seats on the borough council. No Republican candidate appears on the ballot.
- On the Democratic ballot in Oaklyn, Board of Education members Rob Skowrownek and Krista Egan will run uncontested for two seats on the borough council. No Republican candidate appears on the ballot.
- Incumbent Pennsauken Deputy Mayor Rick Taylor also will run unopposed for reelection to the township council on the Democratic ticket. No Republican candidate appears on the ballot.
Voter Information
Scroll down or links to your local sample ballot and a list of polling places, which are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. statewide on Tuesday, June 7.
- Not sure which is your polling place? Use this finder to search 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.
- If there is a polling place problem, or you have any questions, call the Board of Elections at 856-401-8683.
- Are you a first-time voter? Here’s a video from the League of Women voters about what to expect.
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