SOMERSET COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES THANK VOTERS FOR TURNING OUT IN AN UNUSUAL ELECTION

Early Results Show Huge Democratic Turnout Indicating a Dramatic Enthusiasm Gap in Favor of 2020 Democratic Candidates

Somerville, NJ – The Somerset County Democratic candidates thank the voters for their patience and participation in New Jersey’s first all mail-in-ballot statewide primary election.  Despite added hurdles and few in-person voting opportunities, Democratic voters turned out in huge numbers in preliminary results. With ballots still waiting to be counted, and many still in the mail, it is likely that 2020 turnout will exceed even the huge 2016 numbers.

The preliminary results show more than twice as many Democrats cast ballots for Democratic candidates Bernice “Tina” Jalloh for Surrogate and Doug Singleterry and Paul Drake for Freeholder than turned out for the Republican candidates. Democratic candidates received more than 17,000 votes, while the Republicans didn’t break 8,200.

“Democrats are fired up for the 2020 election after seeing the Democratic majority keeping their promises and even lowering taxes at the county level,” said Somerset County Democratic Chair Peg Schaffer. “Then the voters see great candidates like Tina Jalloh, Doug Singleterry, and Paul Drake and know that Somerset County Democrats are committed to providing the best, most committed, and most experienced candidates to lead our county through these difficult times.”

In 2016, Democrats received 59 percent of the total primary ballots cast. In 2020, 68 percent of the ballots already tallied have been cast by Democrats. This overwhelming increase in enthusiasm is an indicator that Democrats are poised for significant wins from the top to the bottom of the Democratic ticket in the fall.

“I am grateful that the voters took the time during COVID-19 and in an all-mail election to support my campaign for Somerset County Surrogate,” said Franklin attorney Tina Jalloh. “I look forward to seeing the final results after all the ballots are counted, and to ramping up our campaign with my partners Doug Singleterry and Paul Drake.

“The voters showed they are eager, even during a pandemic and with a completely new way of voting, to expand the Democratic majority in Somerset County because they see how we govern under Freeholder Director Robinson,” said Freeholder candidate and North Plainfield Councilman Doug Singleterry.  “Now that the primary is over, I look forward to discussing my goals and ideas for Somerset County with the voters as we campaign in this new environment.”

“This has been a difficult election for the voters, and I am encouraged by the level of participation by Democrats,” said Freeholder candidate and former Hillsborough Committeeman Paul Drake. “The voters of Somerset County are committed to continuing the progress we’ve seen in the past few years as we work to make our county more inclusive and environmentally secure.”

To volunteer for the campaign, please reach out to the Somerset County Democrats’ Executive Director James Garrity at somersetdemsed@gmail.com.