In Democratic 18th, GOP Hopes to Pick Up Seat Once Held by Buono

By Maya Chung, Courtesy of NJ Spotlight

In their quest to gain control of the state Senate, New Jersey Republicans are hoping Gov. Chris Christie's coattails are long enough to carry them to victory in an unexpected district, the overwhelmingly Democratic 18th, where state Sen. Barbara Buono's gubernatorial bid has put her seat in play.

The state GOP thinks it has a shot with former Democrat and Mayor of East Brunswick David Stahl. There's also an independent on the ballot, which could further split the difference.

The Democrats are backing Assemblyman Peter Barnes, an attorney who has served in the lower house since 2007.

The 18th is 40 percent Democratic vs. 14th percent Republican.

Thanks to the ripple effect, Barnes’s decision to run for the Senate has created an Assembly vacancy. His running mate, Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan Jr., is paired with fellow Democrat Nancy Pinkin, a councilwoman in East Brunswick. Opposing them are Republicans Robert Bengivenga, a councilman in South Plainfield, and Lisa Goldhamer, who unsuccessfully ran for Edison Township Council in 2011. There is also one independent, Sheila Angalet of Edison, on the Assembly ballot. Angalet has been a Committeewoman in Edison's 23rd District since 2007.

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