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In Camden County, Tuesday’s Primary Election set the stage for a General Election this fall with few surprises.
All results below are considered preliminary and unofficial until certified by the Camden County Clerk.
Most races were uncontested on the ballot, and voter turnout was low, with 60,413 ballots cast — slightly less than 16 percent of the 386,088 registered voters in Camden County.
Democrats turned out in greater numbers than their Republican counterparts, with 50,209 ballots cast; about 28 percent of the 182,097 registered Democrats in the county.
Republicans cast 10,204 ballots in Tuesday’s Primary Election; a little more than 14 percent of the 71,303 Republicans registered in Camden County.
U.S. Senate Race
Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Cory Booker received 47,433 of 47,980 votes cast, and did not face a balloted opponent from within his own party.
In the fall, he’ll face Republican Justin Murphy (5,142 votes), an attorney from Tabernacle who pulled away from a pack of challengers that included Englewood otolaryngologist Robert S. Lebovics (2,110 votes), former NJ State Police Trooper Richard Tabor (1,310 votes), and political commentator Alex Zdan (977 votes) of Robbinsville.
First District U.S. Congressional Race
Incumbent U.S. Representative Donald Norcross faced no balloted opposition in the Democratic primary, winning 45,657 of 46,372 votes cast.
This fall, he’ll face Republican Damon Galdo, a construction worker and conservative podcaster from West Deptford who also ran unopposed, netting 9,170 of 9,274 votes cast in the First District Republican Congressional primary.
Camden County Commissioners Race
With 31,487 votes, incumbent Camden County Commissioner-Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. led all Democratic vote-getters in the race for two seats on the Camden County government, followed by his fellow incumbent Jonathan Young (25,252 votes).
Challengers Vonetta Hawkins (17,859 votes) and Constance Mercedes (15,353) of the South Jersey Progressive Democrats didn’t muster a significant challenge to either of them.
The only Republican candidate on the ballot, EMT Robert Stone of Stratford, landed 9,445 of 10,050 votes cast in his race.
He will likely be accompanied on the ballot this fall by real estate investor Shane Bernat of Winslow, whom the Camden County Republican Party was pushing as a write-in nominee prior to the vote.
Local Races
Contested local primaries
In Merchantville, Democratic challenger Kim Brady led all Democratic candidates in the race for two seats on borough council with 332 votes.
Brady was followed by incumbent Councilman Sean Fitzgerald (313 votes), her running mate, challenger Amie Miller (307 votes), and finally, challenger Ruby Delarosa (277 votes). Read our interviews with all four candidates here.
With 510 votes, challenger Chelsea Gittle led the field of three Democratic hopefuls vying for two seats on the Oaklyn borough council. Incumbent Councilwoman Dorothy “Dot” Valianti was next, with 330 votes, while challenger David Galpern (268 votes) finished third. Read our interviews with them here.
Uncontested local primaries
In Audubon Park, Brian Burns landed 112 of 114 votes cast in an unopposed race for the office of mayor on the Democratic ticket. Democrats Regina Foti (105 votes) and Karen Lewis (102 votes) also ran unopposed on the ticket for two open seats on borough council. No Republican appears on the ballot in either race.
In Haddon Heights, incumbent Democratic Councilwomen Regina Philipps (966 votes) and Kate Harron (926 votes) faced no balloted primary opponent in their path to win re-election to borough council. No Republican candidate appears on the primary ballot.
In Merchantville, incumbent Democratic Councilman Raymond Woods won 522 of 550 votes case in the primary race. Woods is running unchallenged within his party for the seat vacated by outgoing mayor Ted Brennan. No Republican candidate appeared on the primary ballot in either the mayoral or council races.
In Pennsauken, incumbent Democratic Councilman Vince Martinez (3,264 votes) and Mayor Patrick Olivo (2,943 votes) faced no primary opponents in their race to be re-elected to township council. No Republican candidate appeared on the ballot.
