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CCSNJ Election Day Recap
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For any Government-related comments, questions or suggestions please contact:
Hilary Chebra
Manager, Government Affairs, CCSNJ
On November 4, New Jersey held an election day like no other. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, on August 14, Governor Murphey signed Executive Order 177, which created a modified vote-by-mail (VBM) election. Each county’s elections officials were required to send VBM ballots with pre-paid postage to all active registered voters for the General Election. Additionally, every voter had the option to either return their ballot through a secure drop box or turn in their ballot at a polling location on Election Day.
Turnout was approximately 90 percent of the turnout from the last presidential election with about 3.6 million ballots cast in New Jersey. The top of the ticket race between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden has yet to be decided with the critical swing states of Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, and Wisconsin still too close to call, as ballots continue to be counted. President Trump has already vowed to challenge the results in the courts.
Incumbent U.S. Senator Cory Booker won re-election to his second full term in the U.S. Senate against Republican challenger Rik Mehta, winning, 60.57 percent of the vote to Mr. Mehta's 37 percent of the vote.
The New Jersey Congressional Delegation remains the same. First Congressional District Democratic Congressman Donald Norcross easily won re-election receiving 65 percent of the vote against challenger Claire Gustafson, a former Collingswood school board member.
In the closely watched Second Congressional Race, with the race still too close to call, it is likely that Republican Congressman Van Drew will win re-election to his seat against Democratic challenger Amy Kennedy, a public school teacher and mental health advocate.
In the Third Congressional District, Democratic Congressman Andy Kim won his second term in the House of Representatives against Republican challenger David Ritcher. Congressman Kim, defeated two-term Republican congressman Tom MacArthur by just 3,973 votes, a 50 percent to 49 percent margin in 2018. He won re-election this year by a 55 percent to 44 percent margin.
New Jersey also had two special legislative elections in the 25th legislative district, which are both still too close to call. Senator Anthony M. Bucco ran to finish the unexpired term of the Senate seat his late-father held. Republican Assemblywoman Aura Dunn is facing Democratic challenger Darcy Draeger to hold the Assembly seat she was appointed to fill when Anthony Bucco took the aforementioned Senate seat.
New Jersey had three questions on the ballot this election. Voters approved a ballot initiative to legalize recreational adult use marijuana. Legislators will now have to create the legislative and regulatory framework for this new industry in New Jersey.
Voters also decided that the State Constitution should be amended to expand tax breaks to military veterans and their surviving spouses as property-tax relief and a constitutional amendment that delays redistricting for two years, allowing current lawmakers to run for reelection next year in the same areas they currently represent.
To view complete coverage of all election results, click here.
If you have any questions, please contact Hilary Chebra, Manager of Government Affairs at hchebra@chambersnj.com.
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