Parsippany Mayor’s Recount Effort Dismissed By Judge, This Time For Good

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Once again, incumbent Mayor James Barberio’s efforts to challenge the election have proved fruitless, court documents indicate.

In a suit filed with the Superior Court in Morris County earlier this month, Barberio and his legal team mention several concerns over what is thought to be an incredibly narrow election.

The Morris County Clerk’s website shows challenger Pulkit Desai with an 80-vote lead ahead of the incumbent, with 50.05 percent of votes against Barberio’s 49.65 percent.

On Monday, a judge dismissed the incumbent’s challenge with prejudice, meaning he cannot file to challenge again.

Court documents filed in the case say that Barberio and his legal team’s claims of voter fraud were brought up “without any factual or evidentiary support.”

Specifically, several of the people named in Barberio’s challenge, who were accused of voting improperly, did not even vote at all in the 2025 General Election, the judge found.

Additionally, the judge says the legal claims and allegations were filed "haphazardly,” and that the "evidence" is “without merit.”

The dismissal with prejudice now clears the way for Democrat Desai to take on the role of Parsippany’s mayor without any more legal obstacles.

Desai joins council running mates Diya Patel and Matt Kavanagh in victory. Desai, a Marine combat veteran, would become Parsippany’s first-ever Indian mayor. It would also give Democrats a 3-2 majority on the council.

Additionally, Patel is poised to be the first Gen Z Indian-American to serve on Parsippany’s council.

“After months of hard work, conversations at doors, and countless community moments, I’m incredibly proud and humbled to share that we won this mayoral election,” Desai posted on Facebook. “Together, we made history, Parsippany has elected its first Indian Mayor. This milestone belongs not just to me, but to every person who believes in opportunity, representation, and the promise of our town’s diversity.”