Democrats In Short Supply In June Primary Races

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ - Many of the Republican candidates who filed to run for seats in municipal races in the June primary have already won, even though Election Day is not until November.

That's because many Democrats have let the races go unchallenged and haven't even filed to run. So winners in Tuesday's primary election have already won, barring massive write-in votes before the general election.

Ocean County has always been a Republican bastion. But up until a few years ago, they had some competition. Now even that has changed.

Democrats have failed to file to run in almost half of the 33 towns in Ocean County, according to the Ocean County Clerk's Office website. "No petition filed," is a familiar phrase.

Why? Probably money, or the lack of it. Lackluster party leadership doesn't help either.

It's almost an act of courage to run as a Democrat in Ocean County. Money for campaigns is almost non-existent. That's in contrast to the Republican party, where candidates have no problem obtaining money to run their campaigns, thanks to the Ocean County Republican Organization and Ocean County Republican Party Chairman George R. Gilmore.

SubscribeSo when you pull the curtain to vote in a number of towns, especially the smaller municipalities, you won't have much choice.
The towns where no Democrats have filed to run include:
- Ocean Gate
- Pine Beach
- Seaside Heights
- Seaside Park
- Bay Head
- Mantoloking
- Tuckerton
- Barnegat Light
- Ship Bottom
- Plumsted Township
- Eagleswood
- Lakehurst
- Lavallette
Some of the towns - including Ocean Gate, Point Pleasant, Barnegat Light, Lavallette, Mantoloking and Ship Bottom - have mayoral races that are going unchallenged.

Why do you think so many Democrats are not running? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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