If you woke up the day after the November 2025 election thinking Morris County was still a deep-red fortress, the official data probably gave you a bit of a shock. For decades, this slice of North Jersey has been the reliable heart of the GOP's state operations. But the Morris County election results from this past November tell a much messier, more nuanced story. It wasn't just a "blue wave" or a "red wall"—it was a localized tug-of-war that saw some incumbents breeze through while others were shown the door by razor-thin margins.
Politics here is changing. Fast.
We saw a massive 60.00% voter turnout, which is honestly staggering for an off-year. People weren't just showing up; they were voting with a specific, sometimes contradictory, intent. Out of 385,139 registered voters, 231,101 people made their voices heard. Whether it was through early voting sites, which are becoming a staple of our local process, or the traditional dash to the polls on Tuesday morning, the engagement was real.
The Sherrill Effect and the Governor’s Race
The biggest headline, without a doubt, was the race for the governor's mansion. Mikie Sherrill didn't just win statewide; she flipped Morris County. That’s a big deal. The last time a Democrat won the gubernatorial vote in this county was 1973. Think about that. Sherrill pulled in 116,488 votes (50.83%) compared to Jack Ciattarelli’s 111,422 (48.62%).
📖 Related: How the Vietnam War Draft List Actually Worked: A No-Nonsense Breakdown
Ciattarelli is a familiar face here, and he ran a hard-fought campaign, but Sherrill's local roots in Montclair and her tenure representing much of the county in Congress clearly gave her the "hometown" edge. Her victory margin in Morris—roughly 5,000 votes—was a microcosm of her 14.4% landslide victory across New Jersey. It signals a shift in the suburban political landscape that neither party can afford to ignore.
A Split Decision for the General Assembly
While the top of the ticket went blue, the legislative races were a total mixed bag. This is where things get kinda interesting. In the 25th Legislative District, which covers a huge chunk of Morris, we saw a rare split. Democrat Marisa Sweeney managed to unseat a Republican incumbent, Christian Barranco. Sweeney led the pack with 45,572 votes. However, Republican Aura Dunn held onto her seat with 42,539 votes, proving that ticket-splitting is alive and well in the Jersey suburbs.
Over in the 26th District, the Republicans maintained their grip, but it wasn't a blowout. Jay Webber (41,478 votes) and Brian Bergen (40,480) both secured their spots, but the Democratic challengers, Michael Mancuso and Walter Mielarczyk, kept them within striking distance.
- District 21: Flipped Democratic (Andrew Macurdy and Vincent Kearney won).
- District 24: Stayed Republican (Dawn Fantasia and Michael Inganamort).
- District 25: Split (Marisa Sweeney-D and Aura Dunn-R).
- District 26: Stayed Republican (Jay Webber and Brian Bergen).
Basically, if you look at the map, the eastern and more densely populated parts of the county are leaning further into the Democratic camp, while the western and northern "highlands" remain a GOP stronghold.
Local Stability: Commissioners and Sheriff
Despite the drama in the Assembly, the county-wide executive offices stayed remarkably consistent. Sheriff James Gannon, a guy who seems to have support from just about everyone, ran essentially unopposed. He bagged 140,511 votes—basically 98% of the total cast for that office. People clearly like the job he's doing with the Hope One initiative and the general focus on the opioid crisis.
The Board of County Commissioners also saw a Republican sweep, though it was closer than some expected.
- Christine Myers: 108,772 votes
- Douglas Cabana: 107,440 votes
- Thomas Mastrangelo: 108,638 votes
The Democratic challengers—Marie DeVenezia, Jocelyn Mathiasen, and Max Blum—all cleared the 100,000-vote mark but fell just short of the incumbents. It shows that while voters might be open to a Democratic Governor, they still trust the GOP to handle the county budget and infrastructure.
Boonton, Chatham, and the "Hyper-Local" Battles
If you want to see where the real "trench warfare" of politics happens, you have to look at the towns. In Boonton, the Town Council races were decided by single digits in some wards. In Ward 1, Republican John Meehan beat Carol Morokoff by exactly 12 votes (552 to 540). In Ward 2, the Democrats took it, with Danielle Cascone winning 487 to 398.
✨ Don't miss: The 2014 FSU Shooting: Why the Florida State University Tiroteo Still Matters Today
Chatham Borough saw a significant Democratic win, with Karen Koronkiewicz and Miles Gilmore taking both available council seats. This continues a trend of the "Chathams" moving away from their traditional Republican roots.
Then there’s the Butler Board of Ed. In these non-partisan races, the community focus was obvious. Candidates like Karen Smith (1,227 votes) and Jamie Tacinelli (1,116) led a crowded field of five. These races often fly under the radar, but they dictate the property taxes and school policies that actually affect your daily life.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Results
A lot of pundits want to say Morris County is "gone" for Republicans. That's just not true. If you look at the Morris County election results as a whole, the GOP still controls the courthouse and most municipal buildings. However, the days of Republicans winning by 20 points across the board are over.
The growth in mail-in voting and early voting has changed the math. In this election, 39,538 people voted by mail. Another 50,294 took advantage of early in-person voting. Only 137,970—about 59% of the total voters—actually showed up on Election Day. This shift tends to benefit the party with the better "ground game" and data operations.
Moving Forward: What’s Next for Voters?
Because Mikie Sherrill is moving on to the Governor's office, a massive vacancy has opened up in the 11th Congressional District. Governor Murphy already issued a Writ of Election to fill it.
Here is what you need to keep on your calendar for 2026:
✨ Don't miss: Racial Issues in the United States Explained (Simply)
- January 27, 2026: Special School Election in Mt. Arlington.
- January 29 - February 3, 2026: Early voting for the Special Primary.
- February 5, 2026: Special Primary Election for the 11th Congressional District.
If you aren't registered yet, or if you've moved since the November election, now is the time to update your status. You can do this at the Morris County Board of Elections office at 10 Court Street in Morristown, or just hop online to the state's voter portal.
Check your registration status today. If you plan to vote by mail for the upcoming special election, make sure your application is in at least seven days before the February 5th primary. The political landscape in Morris is shifting, and your vote is increasingly likely to be the one that tips the scale in these tight local races.