New Jersey Election 2013: Van Drew Wins Re-election in District 1

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew will return to office after the Democrat held off the challenge from Republican Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt Tuesday night.

Van Drew defeated Adelizzi-Schmidt, 32,861-22,065, according to the unofficial vote totals posted the Atlantic County, Cape May County and Cumberland County clerks’ offices.

Independent candidate Tom Greto collected 706 votes.

The Republicans picked up one seat in the General Assembly.

Democratic incumbent Robert Andrzejcak collected the most votes in the Assembly race, at 28,615. Republican challenger Sam Fiocchi managed to oust Democratic incumbent Nelson Albano when he registered 26,458 votes. Albano was third with 25,123, followed by Republican challenger Kristine Gabor, who had 25,003.

Albano was the focus of the Assembly race, after he requested an investigation into a State Trooper he had a spat with following a traffic stop. The Republicans emphasized this incident during the campaign, while the Democrats pointed to the fact that Gov. Chris Christie accepted Albano’s apology.

The First District is comprised of Avalon, Cape May, Cape May Point, Commercial, Corbin City, Dennis, Downe, Estell Manor, Fairfield (Cumberland), Greenwich (Cumberland), Hopewell (Cumberland), Lawrence (Cumberland), Lower, Maurice River, Middle, Millville, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Shiloh, Stone Harbor, Stow Creek, Upper, Vineland, West Cape May, West Wildwood, Weymouth, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and Woodbine.

Freeholders Gerald Thornton and E. Marie Hayes, both Republicans, ran unopposed. Thornton collected 20,010 votes, followed by Hayes with 19,231 votes.