CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, Nov. 4, 2026 — Cape May County voters backed Republicans in Tuesday's county races, even as Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a Republican, conceded the 2nd District House seat to Democrat Zack Mullock, the mayor of Cape May. All 127 of the county's voting districts have reported, according to unofficial results.

All results are unofficial. Mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day still count if they arrive by Nov. 9, voters have until Nov. 14 to fix problems with their mail ballots, and provisional ballots have not been counted. The official count will be posted on or before Nov. 18, according to the Cape May County Board of Elections.

U.S. House, 2nd District

Van Drew conceded to Mullock Tuesday night, telling supporters that Mullock "is and will be our new congressman for the next two years," 6abc reported. The Associated Press had not declared a winner when he conceded, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Across the six-county district, Mullock had 126,764 votes (50.9%) to Van Drew's 119,520 (48%), with 500 of 561 voting districts reporting. Independent Ramon Mora Jr. had 2,625. Cumberland and Gloucester counties were still counting; Gloucester's part of the district had 15 of 60 districts in as of its last update at 9:10 p.m.

In Cape May County, Van Drew led Mullock, 21,805 to 17,856, with Mora at 192.

U.S. Senate

Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat, won a third full term statewide, the Associated Press projected. In Cape May County, Republican Justin Murphy outpolled him, 20,803 (53.6%) to 17,497 (45%). Independent Veronica Fernandez had 301 and Socialist Workers Party candidate Joanne Kuniansky had 208.

County commissioner and sheriff

Republicans Curtis Bashaw and Patrick Rosenello won the two county commissioner seats, according to unofficial results. Bashaw had 21,725 votes and Rosenello 21,539. Democrats Eric J. Morey had 16,728 and David Temple 15,979.

Rosenello's 4,811-vote margin over Morey for the second seat is larger than the roughly 2,600 ballots that were still outstanding after election night in 2024, according to the county's 2024 periodic report.

Sheriff Robert A. Nolan, a Republican, was unopposed and had 25,106 votes.

Local races

  • Dennis Township Committee, two seats: Republicans Thomas Van Artsdalen (1,747) and Scott Turner (1,710) led Democrats Renee Pettit (1,089) and John Carson (1,037).
  • Lower Township Council, Ward 2: Republican Joseph Wareham had 1,715 votes to Democrat Elizabeth Blair-Slemmer's 1,372 and Caroline Rankovic's 117.
  • Lower Township Council, Ward 3: Republican Roland A. Roy Jr. had 1,971 to Democrat Michelle Simmons' 1,401.
  • Stone Harbor Council, two seats: Independent Geoff Woolery (248) and Republican Wendi L. Powers (232) led Republican Kenneth Biddick (172).
  • Stone Harbor school bond: Voters approved the $1.5M roof bond, 271 to 88.

School boards

  • Lower Cape May Regional, from Lower Township, two seats: Pat Holden 4,879, Roy Abrams Jr. 4,128, Violanda Di Renzo-Adams 3,235.
  • Lower Township, three seats: Gary Douglass Sr. 4,282, Joann Mc Laughlin 3,892 and Lauren Cox 3,299 led Joseph E. Thomas (3,248) and Cynthia Baldacchini (2,569). Cox's lead over Thomas for the third seat is 51 votes.
  • Middle Township, three seats: Brian L. Vergantino 3,081, Jonathon E. Hand Jr. 3,032 and Mark A. Higginbottom 3,004 led Burgess R. Hamer (2,346), Christopher Ingersoll (2,273), David DelConte Jr. (1,973) and Necheala Shelton (1,871).
  • Ocean City, three seats: Michael Allegretto 2,673, Jocelyn Palaganas 2,421 and Corey Niemiec 2,134 led Kelly Anne Hudak (1,607), Catherine Panico (1,420), Steve Flogaus (1,293) and Matthew L. Maas (1,087).
  • Upper Township, three seats: Elsie Jamison 2,577, Kelly Pratt-Johnson 2,401 and Meghan Miller 2,339 led Anna Nistorenko (2,176).
  • Stone Harbor, two seats: Suzanne M. Walters 295 and Mark R. Matreale 201 led Kara Sweet (110).
  • Wildwood Crest, one unexpired seat: Eileen Gianakopoulos 627, Patrick Wood 331.

Races for Cape May City Council, Lower Township Council's Ward 1 seat, the Middle and Upper township committees, North Wildwood Council and Woodbine mayor and council were uncontested.

Cape May Scanner's full results, municipality by municipality, are updated as the counties report.

Sources: Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem county election results; Cape May County Board of Elections; 6abc; The Philadelphia Inquirer; New Jersey Monitor.