By Anne Levin
In the race for two available seats on Princeton Council, newcomer Marina Rubina and incumbent David Cohen have won the June 2 Democratic primary election, which advances them to the general election in November.
According to results from the Mercer County Clerk’s office late Tuesday night, architect and planner Rubina received 2,588 votes (30.33 percent), and Cohen earned 2,429 (28.46 percent). Publishing executive and community volunteer Jon Durbin got 2,095 votes (24.55 percent), while Princeton Nursery School CEO and CARES committee volunteer Leanna Jahnke received 1,400 (16.4 percent). There were 22 write-ins.
Republican candidate Antonio Merolli, who was unopposed, earned 237 votes. There were 15 write-ins.
The winners of the November election will serve three-year terms on Council.
Also watched closely was the race for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 12th Congressional District. Democrat Adam Hamawy, a surgeon and Army veteran, was the winner with a total of 20,437 votes, according to NBC News. He was followed by Brad Cohen and Princeton University Professor Sam Wang. A total of 13 candidates were vying for the seat being vacated by Bonnie Watson Coleman, who is retiring.
Hamawy will go against Republican Gregg Mele, who was the sole candidate on the Republican side, in November.
Incumbent Democratic New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker won the Democratic primary with 31,185 votes, as of results from Mercer County at 11 p.m. He was unopposed. On the Republican side, candidate Justin Murphy earned the most votes, followed by Richard Tabor, Alex Zdan, and Robert Lebovics.
Voters in Mercer County also cast their ballots for county candidates. For sheriff, incumbent Democrat John A. “Jack” Kemler got 29,495 votes and Republican David Meiswinkle earned 5,365. Both were uncontested. Diane Gerofsky, a Democrat, received 4,324 votes for surrogate, while republican Priscilla Devine earned 4,324. Both were uncontested.
Democrat Nakia White Barr was tops over Lucylle R.S. Walter and John A. Cimino for the Board of County Commissioners, while Republican Donald Ober won over Shaolin Brown.
New Jersey was among the six states holding primary elections. The others were California, Iowa, Montana, New Mexico, and South Dakota.
The unofficial totals so far do not include provisional ballots and some mail-in ballots.