Redistricting Gives GOP Hope in Dem-Heavy District 27

Some say Republicans don't have a chance of winning a general election in Democrat-heavy District 27, but former Chatham Township member Laura Ali  and East Hanover firefighter Angelo Tedesco have a different view.

Following their victory in Tuesday's GOP primary over candidate Tayfun Selen, the two are taking on longtime Democratic General Assembly members John McKeon and Mila Jasey in the Nov. 5 general election.

Unofficial tallies from the Morris County Clerk's Office show Tedesco with 45 percent of the primary vote, Ali with 43 percent and Selen with a little more than 13 percent.

The Essex County Clerk's Office reports a similar result from Tuesday's vote: Both Tedesco and Ali garnered about 46 percent of the vote, with Selen's 8 percent putting him again in a distant third place.

Democrat McKeon first was elected to the Assembly in 2001; Jasey followed in 2007. 

Though the incumbent duo and the Democratic Party have a long history of support in the district, recent redistricting that added sections of Republican-dominated Morris County may give hope to GOP dreams in the area.

Tedesco told NJ.com that he sees his ticket's chances as being 50/50, adding that  District 27 voters are ready for a break from Democratic rule.

Tedesco said he, Ali and state Senate hopeful Lee S. Holtzman—who faces popular incumbent Democratic Sen. and former Gov. Richard Codey in the general election—will focus on cutting spending and bringing tax relief to New Jersey.