Majority In Parsippany Voted Blue In Midterm Races, Bucking Local Trends

PARSIPPANY, NJ — One year after Republicans dominated Parsippany's local races, the pendulum swung the other way in the midterms. Several Democratic candidates received more votes than their GOP foes in last month's elections, according to the final tallies.

Last year, Republicans flipped Parsippany's mayorship and two Township Council seats red, giving the party unanimous control at both levels. Parsippany didn't have municipal elections this year, but the midterm results showed the township may remain a battleground.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), a Democrat, generated 8,916 Parsippany votes to Republican challenger Paul DeGroot's 6,796. Sherrill, who secured a third term, has earned the majority of Parsippany votes in each Congressional election since 2018.

The Republican slate once again swept the Morris County Board of Commissioners election. But the GOP candidates finished second, third and fourth in the Parsippany tally. Democratic candidate Judith Hernandez — a Parsippany resident who has run unsuccessfully for Township Council — generated the highest vote total in Parsippany.

Here's Parsippany's final tally in the commissioner race:

1. Judith Hernandez (D): 7,581
2. Christine Myers (R): 7,520
3. Doug Cabana (R): 7,382
4. Tom Mastrangelo (R): 7,361
5. Baramdai "Alicia" Sharma (D): 7,281
6. Thomas "T.C." McCourt (D): 7,135
7. write-ins: 32

Parsippany's midterm turnout fell slightly lower than last year's marks and well short of 2020's totals.

Here are the tallies for Parsippany's turnouts:

• 2020: 28,344 ballots cast (75.9 percent of registered voters)
• 2021: 16,640 ballots cast (43.8 percent of registered voters)
• 2022: 16,083 ballots cast (42.3 percent of registered voters)

The township had 38,024 registered voters during this year's general elections.

Parsippany will have three council seats up for grabs next year, held by Council President Michael J. dePierro, Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani and Council Member Paul Carifi Jr. — all Republicans.

Although Democrats showed some fight in Parsippany at the county and Congressional levels during the midterms, local elections are a different matter. Last year, Gov. Phil Murphy held a slight edge in Parsippany, generating 8,166 votes to Republican Jack Ciattarelli's 8,161 in the gubernatorial race.

But Republicans took the municipal elections that year. James Barberio received 8,467 votes to then-Mayor Michael Soriano's 7,673. In the council race, GOP candidates Justin Musella (8,303 votes) and Frank Neglia (8,012) secured victory against Democratic candidates Hernandez (7,301) and Cori A. Herbig (7,120).