Monmouth County voting results: Live updates from Election Day 2023
FREEHOLD - Polls are officially closed on Election Day 2023, with nearly half a million registered Monmouth County voters facing choices from the Statehouse in Trenton all the way to their local mayors and councils.
The state Senate was at the top of the ticket, highlighted by the neck-and-neck race in the 11th District, where state Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, faces an upstart campaign from Colts Neck communications executive Steve Dnistrian. The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission projects that more than $8.8 million will be spent on the 11th Legislative District race, the most in the state.
But New Jersey voters have routinely tuned out of off-year elections, especially when the Legislature is at the top of the ticket. In 2011, the last year the state Senate was the biggest race in the state, voter turnout barely topped 27%. In Monmouth County, about two-thirds of races are uncontested.
The Asbury Park Press will be reporting live on election results in the races that are contested, so refresh this page or check back for updates throughout the night as the ballots are counted.
10th Legislative District: Holzapfel cruises to reelection to state Senate
MONMOUTH COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES: Brielle, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights
Sen. Jim Holzapfel, R-Ocean, has won reelection to the state Senate, according to the Associated Press. With 88% of districts reporting, Holzapfel has 66% of votes while Democratic candidate Jeff Horn, the Toms River Democratic municipal chair, has 34%, according to the Associated Press.
With 94% of districts reporting, incumbent Assemblymen Gregory McGuckin, R-Ocean, and Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Paul Kanitra each have about 32% of votes, according to the Associated Press. They are opposed on the Democratic side by Emma Mammano, vice chair of the Ocean County Democratic Committee, and John LaMacchia.
11th Legislative District: Gopal wins surprising landslide, Dems poised to take back Assembly seats
MONMOUTH COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune, Neptune City, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls, West Long Branch
Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, is projected to win reelection in the 11th Legislative District, according to the Associated Press. Gopal's victory appears to fly in the face of what had been expected to be a neck-and-neck race against Republican candidate Steve Dnistrian, a Colts Neck communications executive.
With 95% of districts erporting, Gopal has 60% of votes while Dnistrian has 40% of votes -- a stunning result compared to the 2021 election, when Gopal won by just four percentage points and his running mates, then-incumbent Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling and Assemblywoman Joanne Downey, both D-Monmouth, lost their seats.
Assemblywomen Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner, both R-Monmouth, are also facing losses in the race to hold onto those seats. With 95% of districts reporting, Ocean Township Councilwoman Dr. Margie Donlon and former municipal court judge Luanne Peterpaul each have about 28% of votes, according to the Associated Press.
The 11th Legislative District race was host to many of this year's hot-button political issues, such as parental righits in education, offshore wind farms and abortion rights.
12th Legislative District: Old Bridge mayor likely headed to Trenton
MONMOUTH COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES: Allentown, Englishtown, Manalapan, Matawan, Millstone, Roosevelt, Upper Freehold
Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry appears poised to take a seat in the state Senate.
With 87% of districts reporting, Henry has 63% of votes while his Democratic challenger, Brandon Rose, has just 36%, according to the Associated Press.
Incumbent Assemblyman Rob Clifton, R-Monmouth, and Assemblyman Alex Sauickie, R-Ocean, each have about 31% of votes and are expected to win reelection. They are opposed by Old Bridge resident Raya Arbiol and Jackson resident Paul Sarti.
13th Legislative District: O'Scanlon wins in likely Republican sweep
MONMOUTH COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES: Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Marlboro, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright, Union Beach
With 95% of districts reporting, Sen. Declan O'Scanlon, R-Monmouth, is projected to win reelection to the state Senate, according to the Associated Press.
His running mates, incumbent Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn, R-Monmouth, and Assemblyman Gerard Scharfenberger, R-Monmouth, are also poised for reelection with 29% of votes each.
O'Scanlon was opposed in the Senate race by Hazlet communications professional Lucille Lo Sapio. On the Assembly side, the Democrats ran Red Bank teacher and former school board member Paul Eschelbach and Keyport attorney Danielle Mastropiero in the Assembly.
30th Legislative District: Schnall wins Assembly seat, backed by Lakewood Orthodox Jewish community
MONMOUTH COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES: Avon, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Farmingdale, Howell, Lake Como, Wall
Sen. Robert Singer, R-Ocean, is projected to win reelection to a 10th term in the state Senate -- but, according ot the Associate Press, he'll do it as part of a split district.
With 93% of districts reporting, Singer has 80% of votes and his longtime running mate, Assemblyman Sean Kean, R-Monmouth, has 40% of votes, according to the Associated Press. But newly elected is Avi Schnall, state director of Orthodox Jewish advocacy group Agudath Israel, who ran as as Democrat in ultra-Republican Ocean County.
Schnall is a former registered Republican.
Schnall was backed by a huge support in the Orthodox community in and around Lakewood, and he is projected to oust Assemblyman Ned Thomson, R-Monmouth.
Also on the Democratic ticket were Howell resident Stephen Dobbins, who ran for Senate, and retired Lakewood police detective Paul Francisco.
Monmouth County Board of Commissioners: Republicans continue 16 years of sweeps
With 99% of districts reporting, Monmouth County Commissioner Ross Licitra appears to have won his reelection bid alongside Shrewsbury Mayor Erik Anderson. The two Republican candidates each garnered 28% of votes while their Democratic opponents, Colts Neck school board member Alison DeNoia and restaurateur Arthur Schlossbach each received a little over 21% of votes, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.
Monmouth County has been under complete Republican control for over 15 years: A Democrat hasn't won election to a Monmouth County position since Amy Mallet won a seat on the then-freeholder board in 2007.
Anderson will take the seat of longtime Commissioner Lillian Burry, who is retiring from public office. Like Anderson, Burry, 87, was once the mayor of Shrewsbury.
Aberdeen Township Council: Too close to call, with 200 vote-sing between Democrats, Republicans
With all districts reporting, the council race is too close to call.
According to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office, the four incumbent Democratic committee candidates — Councilman Greg Cannon, Councilman Arthur Hirsch, Deputy Mayor Concetta Kelley and Councilman Robert Swindle — each have about 13% of votes.
But the Republican slate of Susan McGowan, Michael Olesen, Carl Zanchelli and Michael Vail have garnered about 12% of votes each, with less than 200 votes separating Hirsch, the lowest vote-getting Democrat, from Vail, the top vote-getting Republican.
The six-member Aberdeen Township Council is under complete Democratic control, and has been for some time: A Republican hasn't won a municipal race in Aberdeen since 1994.
Atlantic Highlands: Mayoral race separated by just 10 votes
With all districts reporting, Republican Councilman James Murphy has a lead of just 10 votes over Democratic Councilman Lori Hohenleitner in the mayoral race, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.
Things are ever-so-slightly more clear in the council race, where the top vote-getters are incumbent Councilman Jon Crowley, a Democrat, with 830 votes and Republican newcomer Ellen O'Dwyer Woods with 817 votes. But just eight votes separate O'Dwyer Woods from Democratic candidate Alyson Forbes, whose 809 votes are just 29 more than Republican candidate Arthur Whitehead.
Belmar Borough Council: Donovan headed for reelection
Belmar Councilwoman Caitlin Donovan appears poised to win reelection. With all districts reporting, Donovan has 62% of votes while her Republican opponent, Sean Patrick DiSomma, has less than 38% of votes, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.
Eatontown Borough Council: Democrats headed for sweep, council control
It looks like a Democratic sweep in Eatontown.
With all districts reporting, Councilwoman Danielle Jones and Candace Faust each garnered about 26% of votes in the race for two open full-term seats on the council, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office. Their Republican opponents, Councilman Mark Regan, Jr., and Maria Grazia Escalante each have about 22%.
Carl Lawson appears to have ousted incumbent Councilwoman Jackie Severinsen for the one-year unexpired term, according to the clerk's office. Lawson garnered about 58% of votes, while Severinsen got 42%.
Fair Haven Borough Council: Razor-thin race could end in split victory
With all districts reporting, Democratic candidate Michal DiMicelli and Republican candidate Brian Olson are the top vote-getters.
According to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office, DiMicelli has 25.47% of votes, while his Democratic running mate, Neil Blecher, has 24.25%. Olson has 25.22% of votes, while fellow Republican candidate Melissa Lowry has 25.04%.
The two open seats are held by Councilwoman and Laline Neff and Councilman Christopher Rodriguez, the only Democrats on the six-member body.
Freehold: Democrats sweep mayoral, council races
Democrats have seemingly swept the mayoral and council races here.
With all districts reporting, incumbent Democratic Mayor Kevin Kane has 57% of votes while Republican candidate Ricky Gartz, the borough's former CFO, has 43% of votes, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.
In the council race, the Democratic team of incumbent Councilman Michael DiBenedetto and newcomer Jeffrey Friedman have about 30% of votes. Republican council candidates Keith Bailey and Autumn Nonnenmacher have about 21% of votes.
Holmdel Township Committee: Republican mayor reelected
The Republican slate of Committeeman DJ Luccarelli and newcomer Joseph Romano appear poised for reelection, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.
With all districts reporting, Luccarelli has about 41% of votes while Romano has about 37% of votes. Kathleen Bauer, the sole Democratic candidate, has about 21% of votes, according to the clerk's office.
Luccarelli is currently serving as the township's mayor. Romano previously lost his bid for a committee seat as a Democratic candidate in 2020.
Longtime Committeeman Greg Buontempo, a Republican, declined to run for reelection.
Keyport Borough Council: Too close to call with eight-vote swing
It could come down to the wire and a potential split result.
With all districts reporting, Republican Councilman J. Christopher Demarest and Democratic newcomer Stephen Gross hold thin leads, with each getting about 25% of votes, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.
Democratic candidate Heather Brady and Republican candidate Jason Faltings are barely behind, with only eight votes separating Faltings and Gross.
Councilwoman Kathleen McNamara, a Democrat, has a slightly larger lead in bid for election to the remainder of her unexpired term. She has 52% of votes while Republican candidate Lauren Walker has 48%, but less than 80 votes separate the two candidates.
Manalapan Township Committee: Republicans coast to reelection
With all districts reporting, it appears that incumbent Manalapan Township Committee members Susan Cohen and Jack McNaboe, both Republicans, have won reelection.
According to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office, Cohen has 41% of votes while McNaboe has 38% of votes. The sole Democratic candidate, Benjamin Samara, has 20% of votes.
Manasquan Mayor: Council foes separated by just 11 votes
With all districts reporting, Councilman Michael Mangan has just an 11-vote lead in the race to elect the borough's next mayor. Mangan, a Democrat, has 1,028 votes, while Republican candidate Councilman Gregg Olivera has 1,017 votes, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.
The winner will replace longtime Mayor Ed Donovan, a Democrat who has served as mayor since 2015 and on the borough council since 2008.
Former councilman Jay Bryant and Sheila Vidreiro are also running unopposed for two open council seats.
Marlboro: Democrats sweep mayor, council races
It looks like a Democratic sweep in the Marlboro mayoral and council races.
Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik, a Democrat, is likely to win reelection to a fifth four-year term. With all districts reporting, Hornik has 70% of votes while Republican candidate Feiby Dawod has 30%, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.
The Democratic council slate of incumbent Councilman Michael Scalea and newcomer Iqleen Virdi has about 30% of votes, while the slate of Republican newcomers, Renzo Kolenovic and John Russotto, have about 20% of votes.
Virdi will replace Councilwoman Randi Marder, who declined to run for reelection after 16 years in office.
The race comes two years after Republicans grabbed three seats on the five-member body.
Matawan: Democrats headed for sweep in mayor, council seats
With all districts reporting, the Democratic slate of Mayor Joseph Altomonte, Councilwoman Deana Gunn and newcomer Arlan Feiles appears to have swept the borough elections.
According to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office, Altomonte has nearly 54% of votes in the mayoral race, while Republican candidate Charles Ross has about 46%.
Gunn and Feiles each have about 26% of votes in the council race, while Republican candidate Anissa Esposito, a former Matawan-Aberdeen Regional school board member, has 22% of votes.
Over 16% of voters also cast ballots for Republican council candidate Joseph Saggese, who was dropped from the ticket after he was arrested for aggravated assault.
Middletown Township Committee: Republicans continue dominance.
It's yet another Republican sweep in Middletown, with Committeeman Ryan Clarke and Committeewoman Kimberly Kratz winning reelection.
With all districts reporting, Clarke and Kratz each have about 31% of votes while their challengers, Democratic candidates Paige Gregorio and Rocky Rios, each have about 19%, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.
A Democrat hasn't won in Middletown since 2007.
Neptune Township Committee: Incumbent poised for reelection
With all districts reporting, incumbent Neptune Township Committeeman Keith Cafferty, a Democrat, appears poised for reelection. According to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office, Cafferty has 60% of votes while his Republican opponent, Rachael Stolte, has 39%.
Neptune City: Eight votes separate mayoral canddiates
With all districts reporting, Democrats have tight margins in the mayoral and council races.
According to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office, Rachel McGreevy has 720 votes while incumbent Mayor Andrew Wardell has 712 votes.
In the council race, the Democratic slate of incumbent Councilman Glen Kocsis and Pamela Renee have about 27% of votes, while Republican newcomers Michael Kepler and Craig Morcom have about 23%. But only 133 votes separate the top and bottom vote-getters, Renee and Morcom, according to the clerk's office.
Sea Bright Borough Council: Candidates from both parties elected
With all districts reporting, incumbent Councilman John Lamia, Jr., appears to have won reelection — but it might be alongside his opponent, former Councilman Marc Leckstein, a Democrat.
According to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office, Lamia has 36% of votes while Leckstein has 35% and Booker has 28%. But only 53 votes separate Leckstein and Booker, so the race is likely too close to call.
Mayor Brian Kelly, a Republican, ran unopposed.
Shrewsbury Borough Council: Republicans headed for sweep
Shrewsbury Borough Councilmen Jim Daly and Brendan Gilmartin, both Republicans, appear to have won reelection.
With all districts reporting, Gilmartin has 29% of votes and Daly has 28%, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office. Democratic candidates Russell Goldman, a former Shrewsbury school board member, and Alexander Howard each have about 22% of votes.
Mike Davis has spent the last decade covering New Jersey local news, marijuana legalization, transportation and a little bit of everything else. He's won a few awards that make his parents very proud. Contact him at mdavis@gannettnj.com or @byMikeDavis on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Election Day 2023: Live Monmouth County election results
