Polistina, Guardian, Swift fend off challenge from Atlantic Dems in 2nd district – New Jersey Globe

Republicans have retained control of the 2nd legislative district in Atlantic County, with State Sen. Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township), Assemblywoman Claire Swift (R-Margate), and Assemblyman Don Guardian (R-Atlantic City) defeating a trio of well-funded Democratic challengers, the New Jersey Globe projects.

As of 10:55 p.m., Polistina leads Atlantic County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick (D-Linwood) by a margin of 52%-45%. Guardian and Swift have 28.6% and 27.5% of the vote, respectively, putting them ahead of marine scientist Lisa Bender’s 22.3% and kindergarten teacher Alphonso Harrell’s 21.6%.

The three Republican incumbents were first elected two years ago, though two of them already had electoral experience: Polistina as a state assemblyman, Guardian as the mayor of Atlantic City. Democrats, led by then-Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo (D-Northfield) were considered slight favorites to win the 2nd district in 2021, but the district instead went to the GOP amid Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli’s superb performance throughout South Jersey.

Since then, Polistina and his district-mates have established themselves as some of the statehouse’s most prominent moderates. All three voted for Democratic-led state budgets in 2022 and 2023, and they’ve forged better relationships with Gov. Phil Murphy’s office than many Democratic legislators.

South Jersey Democrats fought hard to regain the district this year to begin rebuilding their blue wall of legislative seats. Outside groups aligned with the South Jersey Democratic organization spent hundreds of thousands of dollars aiding Fitzpatrick and her running mates – and boosting Shawn Peck, a Libertarian candidate who withdrew from the race after Democrats sent out mailers to redirect conservative voters towards him and away from Polistina.

But Atlantic County voters, who have long been famously independent-minded and frequently sent bipartisan delegations to Trenton, proved perfectly willing to stick with Polistina, Swift, and Guardian. It probably didn’t hurt Republicans that this year was an off-off-year with no statewide race at the top of the ticket, possibly reducing turnout in Democratic strongholds like Atlantic City and Pleasantville.

Polistina will now get to serve his first full four-year term in the Senate; it won’t be until 2027 that Atlantic Democrats will get another shot at the 2nd district’s Senate seat.