By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
More Hillsborough voters cast Democratic ballots in Tuesday’s primary election than Republican.
There were 3,594 ballots for Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders, while 2,811 votes went to Republicans Donald Trump, Gov. John Kasich and Sen. Ted Cruz.
Locally, the effect carried down the ballot, where more votes were cast for the unopposed Democratic candidate for Township Committee than the total of the two men seeking the Republican nomination.
Democrat Laurie Poppe, seeking a second chance at the local governing body, garnered 2,767 votes, while nine-year incumbent Mayor Frank DelCore smothered rival Thomas Hiller Jr., 2,336-301, for the Republican nomination. Ms. Poppe and Mr. DelCore will contest the three-year term in the fall.
Congressman Leonard Lance, a Republican seeking his fifth two-year term, benefited from a hefty Hillsborough margin in capturing his party’s nomination in the 7th Congressional District, which covers portions of five counties.
Mr. Lance got 54 percent districtwide to best Tewksbury Township businessman David Larsen (33 percent) for a fourth primary cycle in a row, as well as first-time candidate Craig Heard, a Morris County businessman, with 13 percent.
In Hillsborough, Lance had 1,695 votes to 792 for Mr. Larsen and 217 for Mr. Heard.
Democrats nominated social worker Peter Jacob, of Union, who was unopposed.
On the county level, Republicans renominated unopposed incumbents Frank Provenzano for sheriff and Patricia Walsh for freeholder. Democrats chose Darrin Russo over Alexander Clark (both from Somerset) for the party’s sheriff nomination by a 63-37 percent margin, and Maria Rodriquez of Bridgewater over Manville’s Lisa Kazmier to run for freeholder, 63.6-36.4 percent.
About 23 percent of Hillsborough’s 26,913 voters participated in the primary election.
Hillsborough voted for Barack Obama in the last two presidential elections, but Republicans usually carry elections for state and local office easily here. All five Township Committee members and all five freeholders are Republicans.
Democrats do break through regionally, though. Andrew Zwicker defeated incumbent Assemblywoman Donna Simon in last fall’s 16th District race. Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican from Hillsborough, carried the other seat.
The number of Democratic and Republican registered voters is roughly equal at about 22 percent in Hillsborough. “Unaffiliated” voters — those who have never chosen a party or chose to be free of the label — make up most of the difference.
In Hillsborough, more Democrats cast votes for former Secretary of State Clinton (2,012) than Vermont’s Bernie Sanders (1,582). Donald Trump easily outpaced the GOP field with 2,124 votes to Ohio Gov. Kasich’s 524 and Texas Senator Cruz’s 163.
To be fair, Mr. Trump had sewn up the party’s nomination weeks ago, while Ms. Clinton and Mr. Sanders were still battling for their nomination. Some media declared Monday night that Ms. Clinton exceeded the number of delegates needed to be assured of nomination.
Somerset County voters understand this is a presidential year and took steps to play a part, according to the county’s Board of Elections.
New Jersey has a “closed” primary, which means residents must be registered in the party in which they intend to vote. First-time voters and people who deliberately have chosen to be “unaffiliated” could go to the polls and choose the party they want; however, from that point, they will be considered a member of that party, unless they file a form to revert back to unaffiliated.
Somerset County Board of Elections Administrator Jerry L. Midgette said there are more than 212,000 county residents registered and eligible to vote this year — a 5 percent increase — compared to four years ago.
New registered voters for the five-month period from January through May totaled 7,317. The total for the same period four years ago was 4,108.
“The substantial increase of new registered voters so far this year can be indicative of Somerset County residents feeling more motivated to cast their ballots during this year’s presidential election cycle,” Mr. Midgette said.
