Despite Local GOP Wins, Phil Murphy Got The Most Parsippany Votes For Governor

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Republicans dominated Nov. 2's local elections in Parsippany, taking the mayorship and flipping both blue Township Council seats. But one Democrat came out on the top of Parsippany's tallies — by five votes.

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Phil Murphy received 8,166 votes for re-election to governor, while Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli earned 8,161, according to results that became official Monday. The five votes that separated them were the same as the number of write-ins.

Voter turnout in Parsippany was 43.84 percent — about 32 percent lower than the 2020 General Election. This November, 16,640 Parsippany residents voted, compared to 28,334 last year.

If the gubernatorial election hypothetically came down to Parsippany, third-party votes would've made a major impact in the result. Madelyn Hoffman (Green Party) earned 36 Parsippany votes, libertarian Gregg Mele won over 36 voters and Joanne Kuniansky received 25 votes for the Socialist Workers Party.

The mayor and council races were by no means blowouts. Republican challenger James Barberio — now mayor-elect — generated 8,467 votes (52.42 percent), while Mayor Michael Soriano, a Democrat, earned 7,673 votes (47.5 percent).

In the Township Council race, Republicans Justin Musella and Frank Neglia earned 8,303 and 8,012 votes, respectively. Democratic nominees Cori A. Herbig and Judith Hernandez respectively came in at 7,120 and 7,301 votes.

Parsippany also leaned Republican in the State Senate and Assembly races for the 26th Legislative District. State Senator Joe Pennacchio retained his seat against Democratic challenger Christine Clarke, getting 52.12 percent of the vote.

The assembly race was a bit closer. Here were the results:

• Melissa Brown Blaeuer (D): 7,247 (23.63 percent)
• Pamela Fadden (D): 7,264 (23.69 percent)
• Jay Webber (R): 8,175 (26.66 percent)
• Christian E. Barranco (R): 7,975 (26 percent)

In nonpartisan affairs, the results of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education race became official. Judy Mayer, Susy Golderer and Sheethal M. Abraham took the three available seats. Abraham defeated fourth-place finisher Robert Quinn by less than half a percentage point.

Here are the results:

• Susy Golderer: 6,554 (24.51 percent)
• Sheethal M. Abraham: 5,044 (18.86 percent)
• Judy Mayer: 6,775 (25.34 percent)
• Jack S. Raia: 3,337 (12.48 percent)
• Robert Quinn: 4,928 (18.43 percent)

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