Noticias

A two-day recount of the Democratic primary for State Assembly in the Bergen County-based 39th district left the initial results unchanged, but showed that some fallibilities in the way votes were counted.

Former Woodcliff Lake Council President Donna Abene defeated Demarest Councilman David Jiang by 131 votes, 8,460 to 8,329. Abene had led by 137 votes after the June 10 primary, 8,454 to 8,317 – a net gain of six votes for Jiang, who had fought to get a Superior Court Judge to agree to recount the votes.

Former Dumont Mayor Andrew LaBruno was the top vote-getter; he picked up six votes in the recount and finished with 8,143 votes; former Dumont Councilman Damon Englese gained twelve votes and finished in fourth place with 6,149.

In total, vote tallies changed by at least one in thirteen municipalities, while sixteen remained the same.  The changes came in vote-by-mail and provisional ballots.

Superior Court Judge Kelly Conlon initially ruled against a full recount during a court hearing, but changed her mind later and signed an order to count all votes over.

After the partial recount on Tuesday, Jiang had picked up fourteen votes.

LoBruno and Jiang ran on a slate with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who was seeking the Democratic nomination for governor; Abene and Englese ran with the endorsement of the Bergen County Democratic organization.

LaBruno and Abene face Republican Assemblymen Bob Auth (R-Old Tappan) and John Azzariti (R-Saddle River) in the general election.  Democrats have not won the 39th district since 1977.

The post Abene still wins Dem Assembly primary in 39th after recount appeared first on New Jersey Globe.