Politics & Government

Live 2026 Election Results For Belleville Mayor, Council

Michael Melham and Frank Vélez ran for mayor. Council candidates were Naomy DePeña, Yolanda Luna, Danyale Wells, and Michelle Rodríguez.

These results were updated at 9:07 p.m. on May 12

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville voters went to the polls on Tuesday to elect a mayor and two town council members in the 2026 nonpartisan municipal election.

Michael Melham was up for re-election as mayor. He ran on the “Better Belleville” slate alongside at-large town council candidates Naomy DePeña and Yolanda Luna.

Find out what's happening in Belleville-Nutleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Frank Vélez, a town council member, ran for mayor as the challenger. He launched the “We Are Belleville” slate alongside town council candidates Danyale Wells and Michelle Rodríguez.

>> Want election updates in Belleville? Sign up for free, local news alerts here.

Find out what's happening in Belleville-Nutleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

With 100 percent of districts reported, Vélez has a significant lead over Melham. His two running mates, Wells and Rodríguez, are leading the council race. The results remain unofficial, with provisional and mail-in ballots still potentially uncounted.

Here are the uncertified results from the Essex County Clerk’s Office:

MAYOR (vote for one)

  • Frank Vélez – 3,255 votes (59.47%)
  • Michael Melham – 2,218 votes (40.53%)

TOWN COUNCIL (vote for two)

  • Naomy DePeña – 2,103 votes (20.33%)
  • Yolanda Luna – 2,196 votes (21.23%)
  • Danyale Wells – 2,948 votes (28.51%)
  • Michelle Rodríguez – 3,095 votes (29.93%)

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.