NJ town will vote in 'vitriolic' election on whether to make its government nonpartisan

Millburn, an affluent township in North Jersey, will vote Tuesday on a historic shift to a nonpartisan government, the first change since its 1854 incorporation. The measure would eliminate party affiliations from municipal elections, forcing candidates to run without Democratic or Republican labels. If approved, the current five-member township committee would be dissolved, and seven new members would be elected under four-year terms in November. Local Democrats accuse Republicans of pushing the change to distance themselves from the unpopular national GOP, citing Donald Trump’s declining approval ratings in New Jersey (now 32%) and recent electoral losses. Democrat Mikie Sherrill defeated a Trump-endorsed Republican by 14 points in the 2025 gubernatorial race, while far-left Democrat Analilia Mejia won a special congressional election by 20 points. Republicans deny partisan motives, arguing the reform will reduce divisiveness and improve governance. Township committee members Frank Saccomandi and Ben Stoller, both Republicans, have opposed affordable housing mandates and support the change to give new officials longer terms for better learning curves. A third Republican, Jamie Serruto, backs the initiative but declined further comment. Democrat Michael Cohen counters that the referendum itself is deeply partisan, highlighting the contentious debate. The township’s wealth and resistance to affordable housing—including a 2024 fight to block a 75-unit apartment complex—have drawn national attention, framing the election as a clash over local control versus state mandates.