Incumbents Lead In NJ 4th Legislative District Races

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — As of 1 a.m., the Democratic incumbents that represent New Jersey's 4th Legislative District in the statehouse lead their Republican challengers with 95 percent of precincts reporting, according to unofficial results posted by The Associated Press.

Vote totals can be found below. Leaders are highlighted in bold. Results remain unofficial until they are certified.

State Senate: 143/149 precincts

Fred Madden (D): 33,990
Stephen Pakradooni Jr. (R): 29,521

General Assembly: 143/149 precincts

Paul Moriarty (D): 32,601

Gabriela Mosquera (D): 31,733

Denise Gonzaelz (R): 29,648

Patricia Kline (R): 30,005

Nicholas Magner (L): 1,089

Madden was first elected to the state senate in 2003. Before that, he was a member of the New Jersey State Police Force, and much of his career reflects that experience.

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The senator sponsored a bill giving surviving spouses of fallen police officers and firefighters permanent workers' compensation, according to njsendems.org. He pushed for the law that makes the transition into the classroom easier for veterans, and a measure honoring New Jersey's service members by designating November of each year Veterans' Month.

Pakradooni, who has a degree in automotive technology, is running to address property taxes, according to his campaign website. His goal is to end property tax increases due to home improvements and freeze property taxes for homeowners 65 years old and older. He is looking to limit state restrictions on New Jersey businesses, corporations, healthcare, education and more.

Moriarty, a former mayor of Washington Township, is in his eighth term as an assemblyman. He worked as an investigative journalist at KYW-CBS 3, a news producer at WCAU-TV, and is currently a media consultant, according to servingsouthjersey.com.

Mosquera was born in Ecuador and came to the United States when she was 3 years old, according to servingsouthjersey.com. She became a U.S. citizen when she was 18, and is the second Latina ever to represent South Jersey in the legislature.

Gonzalez, a Gloucester Township resident, served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Her goals include more funding for the safety of police officers, and bringing back police dogs and community outreach programs like DARE and PALS

New Jersey's 4th Legislative District spans Camden and Gloucester counties, and includes the towns of Chesilhurst, Clementon, Gloucester Township, Laurel Springs, Lindenwold, Monroe, Pitman, Washington Township and Winslow Township.

Just before the polls closed, a superior court judge in Mercer County reportedly rejected a request from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the League of Women Voters to keep polls open until 9:30 p.m.

The request was made because of issues with machines and delayed poll openings across the state, but the judge ruled no voter had been disenfranchised because of these events. Read more here: NJ Judge Denies Polling Hour Extension In ACLU Lawsuit: Report