Ronald Rice Beats Frank Contella In NJ-28 Senate Race, AP Says

This article was updated at 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 2

NEW JERSEY — Ronald Rice was re-elected to his seat in the New Jersey Senate on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

Voters in New Jersey's 28th district headed to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 2 to cast ballots in the 2021 general election. And choosing a state senator was among the tasks they faced, with Democratic incumbent Rice matching up against Republican challenger Frank Contella.

The 28th district includes Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Newark and Nutley.

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With 142 of 157 precincts reported, here are the unofficial results, according to the Associated Press, which declared Rice the winner on Tuesday night:

• Ronald Rice - 28,220 (77.42%)
• Frank Contella - 8,231 (22.58%)

During the primary election in June, Rice fended off a challenge from Quadir Selby, a small business owner in Irvington, for the Democratic Party nomination.

Contella was the only candidate to appear on the ballot for the Republican Party nomination in the primary election.

Learn more about each candidate below.

RONALD RICE

Rice served on the Newark Police Department for eight years before entering politics. The U.S. Marine Corps veteran holds a master's degree in criminal justice from Rutgers University, and is the chair of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus. He has served on the Newark City Council, and has been a Democratic County Committee member since 1976.

Rice was elected to his current senate post in 1986. Since then, he has sponsored legislation in the areas of criminal justice, healthcare, affordable housing, tenant rights, employee rights and education.

He's recently spoken on issues such as policing – decrying the prevalence of deadly high-speed car chases – race relations and the public use of park space.

Rice went on record in opposition to recreational marijuana legalization before New Jersey voters approved it last year, but he has been a vocal supporter of decriminalizing cannabis in the name of social justice.

FRANK CONTELLA

Frank Contella, a business owner in Nutley, was the only candidate to appear on the ballot for the Republican Party nomination.

Contella was a Republican candidate for the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2017. He was also a Republican candidate for the District 28 seat in 2013. He currently serves as an alternate member of the Nutley Planning Board.

Contella's experience includes work as the founder of Frankie Rocksalt LLC and as a radio show host for Common Sense NJ Talk Radio, according to Ballotpedia.

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