WINNERS
Steve Rothman
The 9th District incumbent congressman won the line in his home county by a hefty margin over U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9).
Rob Hermansen
The incumbent freeholder defeated a candidate backed by Bergen County Republican Organization (BCRO) Chairman Bob Yudin to claim the party line in the June Republican Primary.
Joe Kyrillos
The veteran state senator continued unimpeded in collecting unanimous establishment support from county GOP organizations toward his U.S. Senate run. Gov. Chris Christie’s close friend appears to have no financially serious primary challenge from the right.
Steve Tannelli and Tracy Zur
The Democratic candidates for freeholder won the backing of the Bergen County Democratic Committee without opposition.
Ernest Cullari
The 6th Congressional District candidate defeated former Highlands Mayor Anna Little to collect the support of the Monmouth County Republican Committee.
Shmuley Boteach
The rabbi/best selling author won the backing of the BCRO to run in the 9th Congressional District.
LOSERS
Bob Yudin
The BCRO chairman absorbed defeat at the hands of Hermansen, who won the line despite efforts by the chairman to prevent him from running again. Yudin’s allies point out that the chairman’s candidate’s as a duo won the highest vote combined totals.
Anna Little
The former Highlands mayor flirted hard with running for the U.S. Senate against incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), but finally publicly decided to again oppose U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6). After touring the state as part of Gov. Chris Christie’s town hall caravan, the 2010 Tea Party candidate failed to generate the affection of the GOP committee in her home county, losing to newcomer Ernest Cullari.
Michael Saudino
The Bergen County sheriff became a target for fellow Republican Bergen County Executive Kathe Donovan in her state of the county speech. Donovan fulminated against Saudino for negotiating a contract with deputies that she contends would call for a $10.5 million increase over four years. She also criticized the sheriff for not allowing any members of her labor negotiation team to take part in the contract talks. Donovan called the proposed contract, “reckless spending that I can assure you I will not be signing,” she said.
John Ginty
The Ridgewood attorney failed to land the backing of the Bergen County Republican Organization (BCRO) in his unsuccessful 2012 bid for Bergen freeholder.
New Jersey
The state buried a heavyweight when it laid to rest U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-10), remembered by former President Bill Clinton, Gov. Chris Christie, congressional colleagues, civil rights activists, friends, family and neighbors alike as a public servant of true gravitas.
