Incumbents Lead In Unofficial NJ 18th District Election Results

(This post has been updated at 11:20 p.m.)

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Polls have closed and vote totals are being tabulated in Tuesday’s elections. Check back with Patch for updated results of the race for New Jersey’s 18th Congressional District. Results will remain unofficial pending certification.

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Senate:

Sen. Patrick Diegnan of South Plainfield is running for reelection and will take on Republican candidate Vihal Patel of Edison. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Diegnan is currently leading Patel.

11: 20 p.m. Nov. 2 count:

• Diegnan: 28,829
• Patel: 20,596

Diegnan has been a state legislator for 21 years. He joined the Senate in 2016 filling a vacancy and then won re-election in November of the same year. He previously served eight terms in the General Assembly. He is the "author of more than 200 pieces of legislation that have been signed into law," according to his website. He currently chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, serves on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and serves on the Senate Select Committee on NJ Transit.

Patel is a retired Army combat veteran with 24 years of service. He served two combat tours in Iraq. "As a Combat Veteran and Firefighter, I'm no stranger to Public Service. I didn’t know how to completely fulfill my passion for service as I grew older, but after seeing the need for true change in our district, my journey that started as a public servant when I was 19 years old suddenly made sense," Patel said on his campaign website. He is also a firefighter and Hazmat technician and lives in Edison with his family.

Assembly:

Democratic incumbents Sterley Stanley of East Brunswick and Robert Karabinchak of Edison, are facing four opponents — Republicans Angela Fam (East Brunswick) and Melanie McAnn Mott (South Plainfield); Libertarian David Awad (Edison) and Independent Brian P. Kulas (East Brunswick). With 98 percent of precincts reporting, the Democrats are leading their opponents.

11.:20 p.m., Nov. 2 count:

• Stanley: 27,249
• Karabinchak: 28,065
• Fam: 20,822
• Mott: 21,449
• Awad: 624
• Kulas: 595

District 18 includes East Brunswick, Edison, Helmetta, Highland Park, Metuchen, South Plainfield, and South River.