Pallotta Wins GOP Primary In NJ-5 After De Gregorio Concedes: Reports

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Frank Pallotta has won the Republican primary for New Jersey's 5th congressional district, reports say, as Nick De Gregorio has conceded.

Pallotta's lead over De Gregorio is more than 1,400 votes as of Wednesday morning, Associated Press results show. NorthJersey.com reported that De Gregorio conceded Wednesday morning and endorsed his former opponent.

“I would like to thank all those who supported our campaign and recognized that the steep economic challenges our country faces require a businessman like me, not a politician," Pallotta said in a statement. "I congratulate Nick De Gregorio on a spirited campaign and look forward to earning the support of those who cast their votes for him."

AP results show 95 percent of votes being counted. The 5th district covers much of Bergen County and parts of Passaic and Sussex counties, so results need to come in from all parts of the district.

De Gregorio, of Fair Lawn, and Pallotta, of Mahwah, ran in the hopes of unseating incumbent Democrat Josh Gottheimer in November.

"We now move to November, and we will make ourselves heard loud and clear: we are done with politicians defunding the police and endangering American citizens," Pallotta said. "We are done with politicians who sold out our economy and supply chain to China. And we are done with those who have no solution for the inflation or gas price crises.”

Sab Skenderi of Wyckoff and Fred Schneiderman of Cresskill were also on the ballot; Scheiderman withdrew from the race too late to have his name taken off the ballot.

Gottheimer, a Democrat, faced no challengers from his own party in his push to win re-election for a third time.

NJ 5th Congressional District results (with 95 percent of precincts reporting, per NJ.com)

• Frank Pallota (R) - 15,670 votes (50.3 percent)
• Nick De Gregorio (R) - 14,201 votes (45.6 percent)

• Sab Skenderi (R) - 684 (2.2 percent)
• Fred Schneiderman (R) - 607 (1.9 percent)