A slate of Morris County Republicans announced their campaigns for re-election to county office late last week, according to a press release.
Sheriff James Gannon and Commissioners Christine Myers, Doug Cabana, and Tom Mastrangelo said they’ve received more than 150 re-election endorsements from state and local Republican leaders. The release didn’t list the endorsers.
“Because of Doug, Tom, and Christine’s experience, leadership, and vision they have helped make Morris County one of the best-run counties in America, and I am delighted to join them as we run together for our re-election,” Gannon said. “Collectively our team looks forward to keeping Morris the best-run county in New Jersey and the United States.”
Morris County Democrats haven’t won a countywide seat in 50 years, even while federal Democrats have won the county, like former President Joe Biden in 2020. The Republican firewall has held strong for countywide candidates: In 2024, President Donald Trump beat former Vice President Kamala Harris in Morris by about 8,000 votes, while county Republicans beat their Democratic opponents by about 24,000 votes, on average.
A primary isn’t necessarily guaranteed to be smooth sailing.
Mastrangelo’s off-the-line victory for his county seat in 2022 emboldened him to challenge state Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Montville) in a primary in 2023, though Mastrangelo was beaten by 20 percentage points.
Mastrangelo’s chances could be partly contingent on whether Pennacchio lets bygones be bygones.
