Contested Primary Race In Edison, As 6 Dems Vie For 4 Council Seats

EDISON, NJ — The upcoming primary race for the 2023 election is a hotly contested one, as six Democrats are vying for four council seats.

Councilmen Joe Coyle, Ajay Patil and Richard Brescher along with Asaf Shmuel have received endorsements from the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, according to the Edison Clerk’s Office.

Robert Kentos and Luv Patel are running off the party line.

The Republicans have put forward four candidates for the four open seats – Russel Azzarello, Paul Bravo, Meredith Mathews and Gerald Shine. The Republican primary is uncontested.

The rift in the Democratic party began when MCDO chairman Kevin McCabe removed Edison Democratic Organization Chairman Mahesh Bhagia from the party line in 2021, for his alleged connection to the investigation into the racist flyer incident from 2017.

Bhagia went on to challenge then-councilman Sam Josh in the Democratic party primary. He lost to Joshi, who went on to be elected mayor.

The primary is scheduled for June 6.

(Editor's note: According to the confirmed list from the Middlesex County Clerk's Office Tom White and Biral Patel are not running in the primary, as previously mentioned.)