Monmouth County Election 2025: Incumbents leading in primary races
Monmouth County incumbents faired best in Tuesday's primary races, with Republican County Clerk Christine Giordano-Hanlon and County Commissioners Thomas A. Arnone and Dominick "Nick" DiRocco leading the GOP battle for the only countywide contested races.
See all contested races below:
Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon, 57, of Ocean Township, who also has the support of the county GOP leadership, was ahead of her challenger Danielle Bellomo, 38, of Marlboro who was on the conservative ticket.
Monmouth County Commissioners Thomas A. Arnone, 62, of Neptune City, and Dominick 'Nick' DiRocco, 50, of Wall, who have the support of the county GOP organization, were ahead of challengers Mary Katie Kelliher, 47, and Ronald J. Osadacz, Jr., 33, both of Freehold Township, who ran under the banner "Monmouth County Conservative Republicans," according to unofficial results.
In the Republican primary race for two seats on Brielle Borough Council, Michael A. Gianforte and Christine M. Laufer were ahead of Cort W. Gorham in the unofficial results.
Republican challenger John Tobia was leading Sue Fitzpatrick in the Colts Neck Republican primary. Tobia won 1,176 votes to Fitzpatrick's 789 votes. Tobia will run unopposed in the General Election as no Democrats ran in the primary. Tobia, a current planning board member, had voted against the controversial Livana Colts Neck apartment complex and made affordable housing the focus of his campaign.
What's happening: Live updates of New Jersey Primary Election as Ocean, Monmouth residents head to polls
Republican incumbent Brenden Sharkey and challenger Sean Atterbury are leading a crowded Republican ticket for two council seats. Sharkey is at 125 votes and Atterbury at 93 votes. Incumbent Alexi Reque is trailing at 65 votes, as are challengers Alberto Miranda at 25 votes, Jesse Heubel at 18 votes and Joao F. Soares at 18 votes. If Sharkey and Atterbury win the primary, they will run unopposed in the general election as no Democrats have filed to run.
In a borough roiled by resignations, appointed incumbents Janet Leonardis, Patsy Fierro and John Alite, a former mobster, were also on the ballot. All three are running unopposed in their Republican primary races. No Democrats have filed to challenge them in the November General Election.
Results: Live election results for Monmouth County; New Jersey election results
Republican Incumbent Maureen Fasano leads challenger Michael R. Murphy in the Republican primary. Fasano received 1,935 votes to Murphy's 1,003 votes. Fasano will run unopposed in the November general election. No Democrats have filed to run for township committee.
Former Republican Mayor Gregory Buontempo is leading the Republican ticket with rival and current Mayor Brian Foster. Buontempo, who was not endorsed by the county Republican party, has 1,006 votes while Foster, who was endorsed by the county Republican party, has 993 votes. Foster's running mate and current committeewoman Kimberley LaMountain has 973 votes while Buontempo's running mate Prakash Santhana has 731 votes.
Incumbent Marlboro Republicans Antoinette DiNuzzo and Michael Milman are leading the race for three Township council seats. Challenger Nicholas Stella, a recent Marlboro High School graduate, joins the two incumbents for the third spot at 1,258 votes. Incumbent Juned Qazi trails with 1,044 votes, challenger Charles Anastasia trails with 1,194 votes and Oleg "Alex" Gampel trails with 951 votes. The winners of the Marlboro Republican primary will face Democrats David Fisher, Peter Bufano and Aleksandra "Sana" Simanovsky.
In Neptune's Democratic primary for two Township Committee seats, Robert Lane Jr. and Tassie York were ahead in unofficial results over Laura Riedel and Jeffry Lucien. In the Democratic primary race for a one-year unexpired term for Township Committee, Bryan Acciani led Jason A. Jones, according to unofficial results.
There was no contest in the Sea Bright GOP primary. Incumbent Councilman Samuel A. Catalano received 118 votes and Paul E. LoBiondo received 115 votes. The results are unofficial. They will run in the General Election against Independent incumbent Councilwoman Heather Gorman for a pair of three-year seats. There were no candidates running for the Democratic party but there were 18 write-in ballots cast.
There were no challengers in Sea Girt's GOP primary race. Incumbent Councilmember Tom Downey received 291 votes and Councilmember Bryan Perry received 288 votes. The results are unofficial. They will run in November's General Election to retain their three-year seats. While no candidates filed in the Democratic primary, there were nine write-in ballots cast.
(includes the municipalities of Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Marlboro, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright, Union Beach, West Long Branch)
Republicans incumbents Gerry Scharfenberger and Vicky Flynn outpolled challenger Rich Castaldo. Scharfenberger won 11,864; Flynn, 10,246; and Castaldo 8,358.
Flynn and Scharfenberger will face Democrats Jason M. Corley Sr. and Vaibhave Gorige in November.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth County NJ votes favoring incumbents in contested primaries
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