Adamo Declares 'We Did It', Speziale Urges Patience In Democrat Passaic Sheriff Primary

WAYNE, NJ — Sheriff's Office Chief Thomas Adamo posted a simple victory message Tuesday night in the Democratic primary for Passaic County Sheriff, after his opponent said the race may be too close to call.

The county will elect a new sheriff this fall to succeed Richard Berdnik, who died in January of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Democratic primaries in Passaic County saw former sheriff Jerry Speziale Jr. run an off-ticket campaign to regain the county office, alongside three candidates looking to make it on the ballot this November.

Speziale Jr. challenged Adamo, who is Passaic County Democrats' chosen candidate and works as the Chief of Law Enforcement for the Sheriff's Office, for the party nomination.

As of 10:43 p.m. Tuesday night, Adamo was leading by about 2,300 votes, with more than 38 percent of districts reporting.

"We did it," he posted to his Facebook page just after 10:30 p.m.

Speziale had said the race looked too close to call earlier on Tuesday night. Patch will provide further updates on the tallies Wednesday.

The primary election’s Democratic and Republican winners will be able to run in the general election on Nov. 5, while independent candidates had until today (June 4) to file.

Here are the latest election tallies from the Passaic County Clerk's Office for the county sheriff and commissioner's races. Candidates are listed alphabetically; all results remain unofficial until certified.

Last updated at 10:33 p.m. Tuesday, with 38.52 percent of districts reporting:

Passaic County Sheriff (vote for one)

Democrat

• Thomas Adamo: 8,094 votes/58.05 percent
• Jerry Speziale Jr.: 5,735 votes/41.13 percent

Republican

• Marla Saracino: 7,643 votes

Passaic County Commissioners (vote for three)

Democrat

• John Bartlett (inc.): 7,873 votes/19.84 percent
• Rodney A. DeVore: 7,175 votes/18.08 percent
• Sean Duffy: 6,185 votes/15.59 percent
• Cassandra Lazzara (inc.): 8,757 votes/22.07 percent
• Pedro Liranzo: 4,740 votes/11.94 percent
• Derya Taskin: 4,712 votes/11.87 percent

Republican

• William Cytowicz: 7,560 votes
• Nicolino Gallo (inc.): 7,687 votes
• Assad Mujtaba: 7,430 votes

NJ 11th Congressional District (vote for one)

Democrat

• Mark De Lotto: 260 votes/9.69 percent
• Mikie Sherrill (inc.): 2,316 votes/86.32 percent

Republican

• Raafat Barsoom: 44 votes
• Joseph Belnome: 1,653 votes
• John F. Sauers: 70 votes

NJ 9th Congressional District (vote for one)

Democrat

• Mohamed Khairullah: 2,957 votes/28.36 percent
• Bill Pascrell (inc.): 7,429 votes/71.26 percent

Republican

• Hector Castillo: 1,306 votes/29.89 percent
• Billy Prempeh: 3,018 votes/69.08 percent

Note: Our New Jersey Patch reporters have full coverage of the Democratic and Republican primaries for president, and for candidates looking to replace Senator Menendez in Washington. We are also covering most contested seats for the U.S House of Representatives — including the primary for District 11. (You may see the latest tallies by clicking the links provided.)