Biden, Trump And The Line: Caldwells Primary Election Voter Guide

CALDWELLS, NJ — It’s that time of year again in the Caldwells. And regardless of whether you’re showing up to support incumbent president Joe Biden or former president Donald Trump (or neither of them), there will be plenty of other important choices to make during Tuesday's primary election.

Democratic and Republican voters in the Caldwells will head to the polls on June 4 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. to cast ballots in the 2024 primary. The winners will earn their political party’s nomination, giving them a big advantage heading into the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The last day for in-person early voting was June 2. Learn more about voting by mail in New Jersey here.

Need more information? See sample ballots for Caldwell here, North Caldwell here and West Caldwell here. Read the Essex County clerk’s 2024 municipal guide to voting here. Learn more about voting in New Jersey here, and find your local polling place here.

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LOCAL RACES

Voters in the Caldwells will get to cast ballots for races on their local borough/town councils. Each candidate is running unopposed.

In Caldwell, the Democratic candidates are Evelyn Seijido Loesser and Stephen Zisk. The Republican candidates are Barbara Buechner and Dana Hunkele.

In North Caldwell, the Democratic candidate is Johanna Stroever. The Republican candidate is Kenneth Tilton.

In West Caldwell, the Republican candidates are Michael Crudele and Robert Schott. No Democratic candidates filed to appear on the primary ballot.

NATIONAL/REGIONAL RACES

Many voters in Newark will undoubtedly be showing up to cast ballots in the 2024 presidential primary. Democratic candidates include President Joe Biden, who has been endorsed by the Essex County Democratic Committee.

Democratic voters in Newark will also encounter two other choices in the presidential race: anti-abortion activist Terrisa Bukovinac, and another option, “Uncommitted” – a pro-Palestine protest that has qualified for a ballot line under the slogan “Justice for Palestine, Permanent Ceasefire Now.”

On the flip side of the presidential race, the Essex County Republican Party has endorsed former president Donald Trump – the sole GOP choice on this year’s ballot.

There are also several other national and regional races that voters will get a chance to influence:

US SENATE – U.S. Rep. Andy Kim is facing challenges for the Democratic nomination from two longtime activists with ties to the county: Lawrence Hamm and Patricia Campos-Medina. Newark voters will also choose between Republican candidates Curtis Bashaw, Albert Harshaw, Christine Serrano Glassner, and Justin Murphy.

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – Newark is split between two Congressional Districts: the 8th and the 10th, depending on where a voter lives.

In the 8th District, there are three candidates competing for the Democratic Party nomination: Rob Menendez, Ravinder Bhalla, and Kyle Fort Jasey. The Republican candidate, Anthony Valdes, is running unopposed.

In the 10th District, voters will see an unusual choice for the House of Representatives, where the late U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. is appearing uncontested on this year's Democratic primary ballot. There will be a special primary election for the seat on July 16 and a general election on Sept. 18. The winner will take over for the rest of the deceased congressman's term, which runs until January 2025. Carmen Bucco is the sole Republican candidate appearing on the June 4 ballot in the 10th District.

ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF – Amir Jones is running against Gary Nash for the Democratic Party nomination in the Essex County Sheriff race to replace longtime sheriff Armando Fontoura, who is retiring. The Republican candidates are Nicholas Pansini and Robert Bianco.

According to the latest voter registration numbers from the state, there are 296,003 registered Democrats and 61,201 Republicans in Essex County as of June 1. There are 216,245 unaffiliated voters and 5,453 voters registered with third-parties.

NEW BALLOT LAYOUT

Newark residents will notice something different when they cast their votes this year – a new ballot layout.

This year’s primary election will see a significant change due to a lawsuit against a controversial political ballot design known as “the party/county line.” Under the old layout, most counties in New Jersey organized their ballots around a slate of party-endorsed candidates, instead of designing them around the office being sought. According to advocates, voters often had a hard time determining which candidates were running for each office – giving a huge advantage to those who land on the county line.

A recent court ruling has put the kibosh on the use of the party line for Democratic candidates in this year’s primary election, although a federal judge said it doesn’t apply to Republican Party candidates – a decision that some GOP pundits have criticized.

• See Related: Newark Ballots Will Look Different For 2024 Primary Election
• See Related: Demise Of ‘The Line’: Essex County Politicos React To Landmark Ruling

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