N.J. Assembly: Democratic incumbents celebrate; on GOP side, a Trump acolyte is loser
In the lone contested race among Republicans, the loser was a candidate who was shunned by his party's establishment after video emerged of sexually crude remarks by him to a woman.
Incumbents swept Democratic primary races for the state Assembly in South Jersey, according to unofficial results compiled by the Associated Press. On the Republican side, the loser in the only contested race was a candidate who had earned notoriety for using sexually crude language toward a woman.
In the First District, Democratic incumbents Bob Andrzejczak and R. Bruce Land were unopposed. On the Republican side, James Sauro and Robert Campbell each secured spots in November's general election, beating Brian McDowell. It was the lone South Jersey district in which the Republican primary was contested.
McDowell, a North Wildwood real estate broker, unmarried father of three, and backer of President Trump, is a former contestant on Trump's TV show, The Apprentice. He lost the support of the local GOP establishment after video emerged of him seemingly taunting a woman to have sex with him.
"It would be really good. Listen, you never know," he is heard telling the woman in a bar. He said later she was a friend.
In the Second District Democratic primary, incumbent Vincent Mazzeo and running mate John Armato beat out a host of challengers. Republicans Vince Sera and Brenda Taube were unopposed.
In the Third District, Democratic incumbents John Burzichelli and Adam Taliaferro defeated challenger John Kalnas. They will face Republicans Philip Donohue and Linwood Donelson in November.
In the Sixth District, incumbent Democrats Louis Greenwald and Pamela Lampitt easily beat Frederick Dande of Cherry Hill. Winston Extavour and David Moy will run on the Republican ticket in November.
In the Seventh District's Democratic primary, incumbent Herb Conaway and newcomer Carol Murphy defeated challenger Jennifer Hiniu Chuang. Octavia Scott and Mike Piper were unopposed on the Republican side.