South Orange-Maplewood 2025 School Board Election Results (UPDATED)

This article was updated at 4:09 p.m. on Nov. 7

SOUTH ORANGE-MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The dust has settled from this week's school board election in Maplewood and South Orange, and Malini Nayar, Meredith Higgins and Paul Stephan have moved to the front of the pack, unofficial results show.

A highly watched governor race brought many residents of Maplewood and South Orange to the polls on Tuesday. But there were plenty of other choices for local voters to make in the 2025 general election.

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There are six candidates competing for three open seats on the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education, which covers both towns. Terms last for three years. The candidates are: Malini Nayar, Paul Stephan, Meredith Higgins, Daniel Caplan, Ashley Donahue, and Ashwat Rishi.

With 100 percent of districts reported, Nayar, Higgins and Stephan have apparently captured seats on the board. Results still need to be certified before they are official.

Here are the unofficial results from the Essex County Clerk’s Office:

• Malini Nayar – 8,845 votes (19.42%)
• Paul Stephan – 8,173 votes (17.94%)
• Meredith Higgins – 8,494 votes (18.65%)
• Daniel Caplan – 6,751 votes (14.82%)
• Ashley Donahue – 6,643 votes (14.58%)
• Ashwat Rishi – 6,643 votes (14.58%)

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