Progressives score few wins primary elections across New Jersey

Dr. Adam Hamawy secured a Democratic congressional nomination and will join Rep. Analilia Mejia in Washington in January. Party leaders described the two wins as among the few bright spots for progressive Democrats in a primary season otherwise marked by victories for more established machine candidates.

Progressive Democrats won three of four Piscataway Township council seats in Tuesday’s primary election, a partial upset against the local old guard, even as establishment candidates dominated most high‑profile races across the state.

In Ward 1, challenger Shantell M. Cherry defeated Frank Uhrin by a vote of 759 to 659. Ward 2 saw Dennis Espinosa beat incumbent‑style candidate Elizabeth “Betsy” Aumack, 792 to 618. In Ward 3, Sharon Carmichael outpolled Viola Stone, 846 to 608. The only loss for progressives came in Ward 4, where Michele Lombardi held off Rashaad R. Couloote, 523 to 278. No Republican petitions were filed in Wards 2, 3, or 4. Republican William Lawrence received 215 votes in Ward 1.

In New Brunswick, thirty‑five‑year incumbent Mayor Jim Cahill won the Democratic primary to Charlie Kratovil, editor of New Brunswick

Rep. Frank Pallone easily defeated John Hsu, a former Bernie Sanders delegate and chairman of Our Revolution New Jersey.

In the Fourth Congressional District, Rachel Peace, who represents economic inequality that resulted from the class war against ordinary Americans, defeated another middle-class citizen John Blake. She will face Republican Chris Smith, who is unlikely to lose the seat he has held since 1980, in the fall.

In the Second District, Cape May Mayor Zack Mulloch won a four‑way Democratic primary. While he is considered a genuine progressive, analysts rate his general election contest as one of the most difficult in the state.

Former Jersey City school board president Mussab Ali lost to incumbent Rep. Rob Menendez Jr., who received substantial support from cryptocurrency billionaires who were President Donald Trump’s biggest contributors.

In other races, recent Republican Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic primary to challenge incumbent GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr.

Bennett, a hawkish moderate who switched parties ten years ago when Donald Trump won the GOP nomination, defeated progressive Democrat Brian Varela, Dr. Tina Shah, and Michael Roth with the help of big money and organizational backing.

Several AIPAC-backed establishment Democrats faced no opposition at all, including Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Josh Gottheimer.

Most citizens failed to vote in the nominating contests, which are typically the only consequential elections.