Find out who's leading the primary races for Passaic sheriff and commissioner

Passaic County will elect a new sheriff this fall to succeed Richard Berdnik, who died in January from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

June 4, 2024, 8:01 p.m. EDT | Update June 4, 2024, 11:02 p.m. EDT

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

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

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The Democratic primary in Passaic County saw former Sheriff Jerry Speziale Jr. running an off-ticket campaign to win back the county office, alongside three candidates seeking to appear on the November ballot.

Speziale Jr. challenged Adamo, who is the Passaic County Democrats' chosen candidate and who works as the chief of law enforcement for the sheriff's office, for the party's nomination.

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

“We did it,” he posted on his Facebook page shortly after 10:30 p.m.

Speziale had said the race appeared too close to call earlier Tuesday evening. The patch will provide further updates on counts on Wednesday.

The Democratic and Republican winners of the primary elections will be able to run in the general election on November 5, while independent candidates had until today (June 4) to file their candidacy.

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

Last updated Tuesday at 10:33 p.m., 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
• Deria Taskin: 4,712 votes/11.87 percent

Republican

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

New Jersey's 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

New Jersey's 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 fully cover the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, as well as the candidates seeking to replace Senator Menendez in Washington. We also cover most of the contested seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, including the District 11 primary. (You can view the latest tallies by clicking the links provided.)