Special Election in Newark’s Central Ward Too Close to Call as Ballots Still Being Tallied
The intensely contested special election to fill the vacant Central Ward seat on the Newark City Council has counted early and same-day in-person ballots as of Tuesday night, but mail-in and provisional votes are still pending The campaign will determine who represents one of the city’s key wards after a council member, now a U.S. Representative, left last year.
After all precincts report in-person vote counts, community advocate Amina Bey leads former councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins by 100 votes. Bey got 39.3% of 7,966 votes, Jenkins 38.4%. The clerk’s office warned that election day mail-in and provisional ballots could affect the total. Election certification is required by state law by mid-November.
This non-partisan election is influenced by local politics. Mayor and departing councilor backed Bey. Former ward representative and mayoral candidate Chaneyfield Jenkins wants to run again. Tech developers and minority-hiring advocates also ran, although they trailed in votes.
The Central Ward seat was vacant for a long time after the former council member was elected to Congress last year. Since the emergency election was not coordinated with local elections, it will be held this fall. Eight seats substitute nine council members until the winner is announced.
Campaign analysts say the narrow margin shows how endorsements, political networks, and turnout plans affect non-partisan municipal elections. Newark’s fast-redeveloping core and Central Ward communities drive local politics. Its representatives influence housing, zoning, community services, and municipal funding. A full four-year term must be sought in the spring election.
All valid ballots must be counted and confirmed before claiming victory. Local election authorities caution voters that checking signatures and postmarks on provisional and mail-in ballots may take days. Although Bey has a little edge, it’s too close to call.
Sources
New Jersey Globe
