Somerset County Democrats Gain Control of Five Additional Towns, Flip 13 Seats

Good Governing, Hard Work, Great Candidates Allow the Democrats to Gain Beyond the National Blue Wave Trend

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ – The Somerset County Democrats continued its decade long winning streak on election day, winning 35 local seats and flipping an additional thirteen municipal seats and adding control for five more towns and taking the mayorship in Bernardsville Boro. With the addition of Raritan, Peapack & Gladstone, Manville, Green Brook, and Hillsborough the Democrats now hold every County office and control fourteen local governments. Somerset County Commissioners Paul Drake and Liz Graner were reelected with 64 percent of the vote.

“Democrats in Somerset County excel at running campaigns, and at running governments,” said Somerset County Democratic Chair Peg Schaffer. “Our ten-year winning streak is because we run great candidates who we know will be great elected officials. The voters see Democrats delivering success, and the result is more Democratic wins.”

The Democrats also flipped four Mayoral seats either directly or by winning control of local governing bodies. Jeffrey Hammond was elected Mayor in Bernardsville and Adam Aramhizer was elected Mayor in Raritan. Democrats are expected to add Mayors during January 2027 Township Committee reorganizations in Green Brook and Hillsborough following their wins this Tuesday.

With the victory of Jay Tilak's in Branchburg, seventeen of twenty-one municipalities in Somerset County have a Democrat representing its residents in local office.

In addition to the local successes, Somerset County delivered huge pluralities for Senator Cory Booker (66%), Rebecca Bennett for CD7 (60%), Adam Hamawy for CD12 (73%).