Showdown Looms for Somerset County Freeholder Candidates

BySophia Johannson

Political battle lines are being drawn in Somerset County as both major parties solidify their slates for the November election, with Republicans mounting a fresh challenge to the Democratic majority that has transformed the once-reliable GOP stronghold. Nick Cuozzo has announced his candidacy for Somerset County Commissioner, setting up a rematch against two-term Democratic incumbent Melonie Marano in what could be a key test of the county’s shifting political dynamics.

Cuozzo, a Bernards Township planning board member who ran last year and finished 10,292 votes behind incumbent Sara Sooy, will be making his second consecutive bid for county office. “I am looking forward to building on the momentum and great enthusiasm our campaign generated this past year,” Cuozzo said, according to New Jersey Globe. “I will continue to make the case for a more affordable Somerset County, to fight overdevelopment that harms our communities and our environment, and to prioritize public safety and security for all residents.”

Photo Source: DepositPhotos

Dramatic Democratic Transformation

The upcoming contest takes place against the backdrop of Somerset County’s remarkable political transformation over the past decade. When Marano first ran countywide in 2007, Somerset had 14,590 more Republicans than Democrats. By her successful 2019 campaign, Democrats had gained a registration advantage of 17,942 voters. Today, that Democratic edge has expanded to 26,512 registered voters.

This dramatic shift helped Democrats flip control of county government after decades of Republican dominance. Beginning in 2018, Democrats methodically captured every countywide office – winning two commissioner seats that year, followed by Marano’s narrow 341-vote victory over Republican Pat Walsh in 2019, and finally securing the remaining two commissioner positions in 2020.

The Democratic takeover extended beyond the commissioner board to include the county clerk’s office (2017), sheriff (2018), and surrogate (2019), completing an unprecedented sweep of county government.

Democratic Unity Contrasts with Governor Race

While Republicans prepare their challenge at the county level, Somerset Democrats demonstrated unusual unity at their March convention. The county party awarded its organizational slogan to all five gubernatorial candidates who participated in their screening process: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, NJEA President Sean Spiller, and former Senate President Steve Sweeney.

“New Jersey is lucky to have so many talented Democrats running for Governor, and we are excited to offer our slogan to all qualified candidates,” Somerset County Democratic Chair Peg Schaffer stated, according to New Jersey Globe. “We look forward to a spirited primary, and will wholeheartedly support the Democrat who wins against whichever Trump-supporting, MAGA Republican comes out of their primary.”

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop was the only major gubernatorial candidate who opted not to participate in county conventions, and thus won’t appear on the Somerset Democratic line – a strategic decision that remains untested.

Incumbents Seek Reelection

At the same convention, Democrats unanimously endorsed their incumbent slate of county officials seeking reelection: Sheriff Darrin Russo, Surrogate Tina Jalloh, and County Commissioner Melonie Marano. The party also backed all of its incumbent Assembly members in legislative districts that include portions of Somerset County.

Marano’s political journey illustrates the county’s changing political landscape. After losing her first county race in 2007 by 1,867 votes, she successfully flipped the seat twelve years later in a rematch against the same opponent, winning by just 341 votes in 2019. That narrow victory gave Democrats their first commissioner board majority since a brief one-year period in 1964-1965.

Photo Source: DepositPhotos

Competitive Contest Expected

Political observers anticipate a competitive contest in Somerset County this fall, despite the growing Democratic registration advantage. The county has historically seen significant ticket-splitting, and local issues like property taxes, development, and public safety often transcend partisan considerations.

For Republicans, Cuozzo’s candidacy represents their first step toward rebuilding a countywide presence. The party that once dominated Somerset politics for generations is now working to adapt to the county’s changing demographics and political preferences.

As both parties prepare for the November election, Somerset County remains a microcosm of New Jersey’s evolving political landscape – a former Republican stronghold that has shifted decisively Democratic in recent years, but where competitive races at the local level continue to engage voters across the political spectrum.

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