GOP Chairman Golden, Monmouth County Republicans Continue Taking a Beating in the Voting Booth

Phil Stilton

OCEAN TOWNSHIP-The Monmouth County Democrat party has gained even more ground in Monmouth County after Tuesday’s election in Ocean Township gave the party majority control of the municipal council.   Republicans in the county are now against the ropes heading into the next few election cycles.

Ocean Township Republicans Rich Long and Donna Shepiga will be departing the governing body, being replaced with Margie Donlon and David Fisher.    The lone Republican winning re-election was Rob Accerra who won re-election.

Since 2015 Democrats have been gaining ground on Republicans in Monmouth County taking 46 seats, including 3 legislative seats along the way.    Also since 2018, Democrats have flipped 9 Republican towns.

Democrats now control Allentown, Atlantic Highlands, Eatontown, Keyport, Long Branch, Manasquan, Matawan, Neptune City, Ocean Township, and Red Bank.   Democrat Mayors are in power in Howell and Spring Lake Heights.


The news is not good for Monmouth County GOP Chairman Sheriff Shaun Golden who took control of the party in 2014.  Since taking power, Golden has given up ground year after year.    This month’s election and the current trend of losing to Democrats could have a negative impact on Golden’s quest to be the next governor of New Jersey.

His rival on the other side of the aisle, Democrat Chairman David. G. Brown is reveling in his party’s most recent victory.

“Democrats have flipped Atlantic Highlands, Matawan, Allentown, Eatontown, Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Neptune City, Long Branch and so many other towns in recent years,” Brown said. “We’ve also won three legislative seats and elected a Democratic Mayor in Howell, Monmouth County’s second biggest town. Republicans have only flipped one town during that time period – Belmar. Most recently, Democrats won a majority of the seats in Ocean Township’s nonpartisan election – they went from having 3 Republicans on the governing body to 1.”

Brown said in total, his party has replaced over 50 Republicans since Golden took control of the Republican Party.

“We’ve replaced over 50 local Republican elected officials in recent years and we are really proud of the progress Democrats continue to make in Monmouth County,” Brown said.

 

 

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