Assemblyman Hangs On, Declaring Win In Tight Democratic Race In NJ-7

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Assembly Member Balvir Singh declared victory in Tuesday's election, hanging on in a tight race against a primary challenger in New Jersey's 7th legislative district.

District 7, which contains Burlington County's riverside communities, was among an election field loaded with primary challengers — especially on the Democratic side.

A few hours after polls closed, the Associated Press declared Assembly Member Carol Murphy as one of the winners in District 7's Democratic primary.

Murphy carries a commanding lead in the three-candidate field, with 19,997 votes as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Singh, who was appointed to the Assembly in January, declared victory around midnight. His opponent, Bordentown Mayor Eric Holliday, conceded Wednesday morning.

But it was a tight race for the second Assembly spot. Singh has 11,927 votes to Holliday's 11,371 as of this writing.

Votes have been counted in 219 of the district's 221 precincts, according to the Burlington County Clerk's Office. All results are unofficial until certified on a later date.

Murphy has been an Assembly member since 2018. She has held high-ranking positions on the governing body, serving as deputy majority leader for two years before becoming the majority whip in 2022.

Singh, meanwhile, is newer to the Assembly. In January, the Burlington County Democratic Committee voted for him to fill the seat made vacant by longtime Assembly Member Herb Conaway's election to Congress last November.

Previously, Singh served on the Burlington Township Board of Education (2015-17) before becoming a county commissioner (2018-25). Tuesday's Democratic primary marked his first open election since he advanced to the Assembly.

"I'm thrilled to share that we've won the primary election — and it’s all because of your support, your votes, and your belief in our campaign," Singh said in a statement late Tuesday night. "Let's keep this momentum going as we head toward November!"

Holliday, who conceded Wednesday morning, was among the slate of Democratic primary challengers around the state who Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop endorsed. Fulop ran for governor, falling to U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

"This campaign was never just about winning an election, it was about amplifying voices that are too often overlooked," Holliday said in a statement to voters. "I ran because you asked for someone who would listen. Someone who would fight for fair school funding, address affordability, and protect our state from federal overreach."

The Republican side featured an uncontested primary in the 7th district's Assembly race. GOP candidates Dione Johnson and Doug Dillon are slated to face the Democratic primary winners in Nov. 4's General Election.

Third-party and independent candidates will also have the chance to join the race.

Democrats have held both of District 7's Assembly seats since 1998.

Here are the unofficial tallies as of 11 a.m. Wednesday:

STATE ASSEMBLY, NEW JERSEY'S 7TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Democratic Party (vote for two)

219 of 221 precincts reporting

• Carol Murphy: 19,997
• Balvir Singh: 11,927
• Eric Holliday: 11,371

Republican Party (vote for two)

219 of 221 precincts reporting

• Doug Dillon: 8,508
• Dione Johnson: 7,944