2 Weeks After Holmdel GOP Primary, Results Still Undetermined

HOLMDEL, NJ – Holmdel residents have cast their votes, stamped their envelopes and mailed in their ballots since New Jersey's July 7 primary election. However, for the Holmdel Township Committee Republican primary race, an official winner still has yet to be determined.

Officials from the Monmouth County Board of Elections stated Tuesday morning that, although over 17,000 provisional ballots have been received, hundreds of ballots have yet to be counted.

While Board of Election heads say that it is still unknown when exactly the results will be announced, the Asbury Park Press reported that the final processing of ballots is slated to be completed by Friday.

It was decided earlier this year that the New Jersey primary elections would be postponed to July due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. An executive order increasing mail and provisional ballots was signed this spring, an order which required a ballot to be sent to registered voters in an attempt to minimize the spread of the virus at the polls. Read more: Coming NJ Election 'Primarily' Will Be Vote-By-Mail: Gov. Murphy

The Republican primary election, which has mayor Greg Buontempo and running mate Ronald Emma vying for two open seats against School Board President Victoria “Vicky” Flynn and Domenico “DJ” Luccarelli. One of the two seats is currently occupied by Buontempo. The second seat is held by incumbent Rocco Pasccuci, who has opted not to run for reelection.

The latest numbers, last updated on Friday evening, show Domenico “DJ” Luccarelli with a slight advantage, maintaining 28.91 percent of the vote. Nevertheless, the outcome remains too close to call any victory just yet as all four Republican candidates claim roughly 20 percent of the vote. Read more: Holmdel Twp Committee Primary: Who's Running, How To Vote

Come November, the winners of the Republican primary will face off against Democrats Joseph Romano and Mike Jenkins, the latter of whom ran as a write-in candidate. While only time will tell who will come out of the primary as the GOP winner, it is certain that the anticipated results will determine the new future of the Holmdel Township Committee.

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