Bateman Ultimately Wins by 689 Votes
Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) finally survived by a wider margin of victory than the initial 200 vote-teeth gnash reported on the morning after Election Day.
Challenged by attorney Laurie Poppe, Bateman managed to throw some gravy on his vote pull by the time all votes tallied.
It was finally a 689 margin he managed over the Democrat.
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Redistricting is only 3+ years away and if the Democrats want to complete their takeover of LD16 after coming less than 1,000 votes away from taking out Kip Bateman, all it would take is to move Delaware Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township, and Readington Township from LD16 to LD15, Plainsboro Township and West Windsor Township from LD14 and LD15 respectively to LD16, and Lawrence Township from LD15 to LD14.
Linda Greenstein and Shirley Turner might not be happy (especially Turner who would likely face a primary challenge from Steve Sweeney’s fellow Building and Tradesman, Wayne DeAngelo without the benefit of Trenton’s African-American community) about being moved from LD14 to LD16 and LD15 to LD14 respectively, but they could move to Monroe Township and Trenton respectively if they want to stay in their current districts.
Reed Gusciora moved to Trenton when Princeton was moved from LD15 to LD16 during the last redistricting, so it is not like it never happens. Greenstein might be less inclined to move, because the new LD16 would be significantly more Democratic than the current LD14. The new LD14 would become marginally more Democratic, while the new LD15 would become significantly less Democratic, but still a very safe district.