FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOV. 4, 2026
Contact: Anthony Campisi
Anthony@WalnutLaneStrategies.com
(732) 266-8221
New Jersey LCV Celebrates Sweeping Local and County Electoral Victories as Voters Deliver a Mandate for Change
In an election where candidates up and down the ballot won on a message of change, New Jersey LCV is celebrating a decisive wave of victories for local and county endorsed candidates across the Garden State.
While votes are still being tallied, 43 of New Jersey LCV’s 49 endorsed candidates are currently poised for victory. More than 60% of the endorsed candidates are women, and nearly a quarter are people of color. There were 4 LGBTQ endorsees.
Yesterday’s election results send a clear message: Voters want leaders in both Washington and in their local communities who will fight for working families, deliver common sense solutions and put communities over corporate profits as they pursue a pro-environment agenda.
"Yesterday’s results prove that when candidates offer common sense solutions and commit to fighting for working families, voters will turn out and deliver a mandate for change," said New Jersey LCV, Interim Executive Director, Allison McLeod. "From the Bayshore to the Highlands, New Jerseyans made their voices heard. They decisively chose leaders who put people over profits and rejected the corporate polluters and developers trying to exploit our communities."
Across the state, voters prioritized environmental champions focused on delivering real change at the local level to protect New Jerseyans’ quality of life, from safeguarding clean air and water and ensuring flood resilience to reining in an uncontrolled data center explosion and protecting open space.
“Elections are an opportunity to move New Jersey forward on the issues that matter most to our communities: clean air and water, affordable clean energy, and protecting the natural resources that sustain us,” said Randy Jones, New Jersey LCV C4 Board Chair. “At New Jersey LCV, we work to ensure that the leaders elected to office understand these priorities and are prepared to act on them. Our work doesn’t end on election day. We will continue to engage with elected officials, track their decisions, and hold them accountable for delivering on the environmental commitments that protect the health, safety, and quality of life for New Jersey families.”
While votes are still being tallied, New Jersey LCV’s endorsed candidates have already secured massive victories in key priority races:
Morris County Wave: Highlighting a massive political shift in the region, Chris Russo won a bellwether victory for Morris County commissioner on a platform of lowering energy costs, protecting open space and delivering for New Jersey’s working families.
Atlantic County: Lisa Bender ran a powerful, winning campaign for County Clerk focused on protecting voters’ access to the ballot following previous voting irregularities in Black and brown communities like Pleasantville. Additionally, Kyle Gornick, our endorsed County Commissioner candidate, secured a critical seat, propelled by a platform advocating for clean energy to lower electric bills and create union jobs along the Jersey Shore.
Monmouth County: Pro-environment candidates swept countywide elections in Monmouth County for the first time in nearly 20 years, promising to protect open space and address flooding.
“New Jersey LCV was founded on a clear mission: to elect environmental champions who will protect our air, water, and open space. We delivered on that mission with phenomenal wins by our endorsed local candidates,” said Jaclyn Rhoads, New Jersey LCV Political Committee Chair. “These results reflect the strength of our commitment, the power of our advocacy, and the importance of ensuring that environmental protection remains a priority in communities across New Jersey.”
For a link to a full list of New Jersey LCV’s winning candidates, click here.
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