FRNJ’s 5 Political Races to Watch Involving South Jersey Candidates of Color
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BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY — Political fireworks in New Jersey usually arrive in November, but this year several primary contests are already generating intense interest — and some could reshape both Congressional and county politics.
These races also feature candidates of color playing pivotal roles. Front Runner New Jersey.com is tracking five races that will help define the political landscape in South Jersey through June and into November.
Congress — New Jersey District 2
The District 2 Congressional race is drawing the most attention, with four Democrats competing for the chance to challenge Republican incumbent Jeff Van Drew in November.
Former nominee Tim Alexander, who ran in 2022, has secured endorsements from four of the district’s six Democratic county committees — Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem.
According to the New Jersey Globe, Bayly Winder holds a strong fundraising advantage, raising $191,000 in the first quarter and $640,000 overall. Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock has raised $200,000.
Despite the financial gap, Alexander has leveraged name recognition from his previous campaigns and mounted an aggressive grassroots effort across the district. On April 25, he made five campaign stops, ending the night at the Atlantic City NAACP Freedom Fund Gala, where Front Runner New Jersey.com spoke with him.
Terri Reese, who recently responded to a Front Runner New Jersey column on the District 2 race, is also running a grassroots campaign as the fourth Democratic contender. Read her column here.
Local dynamics — including the competitive Cumberland County commissioners’ race — could influence turnout and shape the outcome of the District 2 primary. See details further down.
The seat also carries national implications. With Congress closely divided, a single seat could affect how President Donald Trump’s agenda is advanced or challenged.
Congress — New Jersey District 3
In District 3, U.S. Rep. Herb Conaway will defend his seat for the first time after winning a historic election two years ago to replace now?Sen. Andy Kim.
Conaway is unopposed in the Democratic primary. He will face the winner of the three?way Republican contest between Justin Barbera, Jason Cullen, and Michael McGuire. District 3 includes portions of Burlington, Mercer, and Monmouth counties.
Cumberland County Commissioners — Three Seats
County primaries are often quiet warmups for November — but not this year. The Democratic primary for three commissioner seats has become one of the most competitive local races in South Jersey.
After Democrats flipped two seats last November — including the historic election of Yolanda Garcia Balicki, the county’s first Latina commissioner — six Democrats are now vying for three nominations. Four of them are candidates of color.
The Democratic field includes: Darwin Cooper, Ronald Franceschini Jr., Tanisha Gomez, Joseph Pepitone, La Rae Smith, and Paul Praful Thakkar.
If candidates of color (Cooper, Gomez, Smith, and Thakkar) can drive strong turnout among minorities, that surge could benefit Alexander in the District 2 primary. Cumberland County has the second-largest voter population in the district.
Alexander did not benefit from diverse fields in other races two years ago, when he narrowly lost the Democratic primary to Joe Salerno after winning the nomination in 2022. While this scenario depends on several factors, it remains a dynamic worth watching.
Camden County Commissioners — Two Seats
The race for two seats on the Camden County Board of Commissioners is not expected to be as close, but it will test whether progressive Democrats can gain traction against well?established incumbents.
Commissioners Louis Cappelli Jr. and Jonathan Young are seeking re?election against South Jersey Progressive challengers Vonetta Hawkins and Constance Mercedes.
Ballot petition signatures suggest a steep uphill climb for the challengers: Cappelli and Young each collected nearly 2,500 signatures, while Hawkins and Mercedes gathered fewer than 500. Still, competitive primaries offer insight into voter sentiment and the strength of incumbents.
Bridgeton Mayor
Bridgeton’s municipal elections are nonpartisan, so there is no primary. But the decision by longtime Mayor Albert Kelly, who has led the city since 2010, not to seek re?election leaves a significant political opening.
J. Curtis Edwards, president and CEO of CompleteCare and a longtime city councilman, was the first to announce his candidacy. Edwards has been an elected official since 2005, beginning on the Bridgeton School Board before joining city council.
READ: J. Curtis Edwards Officials Enters Bridgeton Mayor’s Race
His family name carries weight in the community — from the late funeral director Jim Edwards, to his brother Richard Todd Edwards, to his cousin Angelia Edwards, a school board member. Combined with his leadership at CompleteCare, one of South Jersey’s largest health providers, Edwards enters the race as a formidable contender.
No other candidates have formally emerged, but replacing Kelly — a former president of the New Jersey League of Municipalities — remains a major moment for the city.
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