Ocean County’s unofficial 2025 election results signal a high-energy contest characterized by strong conservative turnout, contentious local races, and notable shifts at the township and council levels. Statewide, New Jersey saw a lower-than-average turnout, but Ocean County voters turned out in large numbers for key local races, including the exceptionally close mayoral contest in Brick Township.
Statewide Turnout and Conservative Engagement
As of Election Day, 1,334,572 ballots had been cast statewide in New Jersey—a turnout rate of around 20% to 21.7% when adjusting for inactive voters, according to analyses from VoteHub and state reporting. Early in-person voting accounted for over 741,924 ballots, with Republican voters comprising 35.4% of early ballots—a strong showing in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans on the registration rolls. Another 592,648 voters returned mail-in ballots, roughly 21% of which were from registered Republicans, who posted a high return rate on their issued ballots (66.6%) that rivaled Democrats (68.6%) and far outpaced unaffiliated voters (47%). Ocean County itself remains a Republican stronghold, further buoying the party’s performance and signaling robust grassroots activism across the region.
Ocean County Election Results: GOP Momentum Continues
Ocean County races featured spirited contests, with Republican candidates holding or making gains in several countywide seats and local offices. The results, though unofficial and subject to change as mail-in and provisional ballots continue to be processed, reinforce Ocean County’s reputation as a bastion of conservative values and priorities. In both the county sheriff and clerk contests, Republican candidates had strong showings, continuing the trend of GOP dominance in these positions over the past decade.
Brick Township: A Razor-Thin Mayoral Race
In Brick Township—one of the most closely watched local contests—incumbent Democratic Mayor Lisa Crate appears to have narrowly eked out an apparent victory over Republican challenger Madeline Colagiovanni Iannarone. The unofficial tally had Crate leading by just 261 votes, with 16,705 compared to Iannarone’s 16,444 (50.3% to 49.57%), making it one of the tightest races in recent township history. Iannarone, who ran on an agenda of fiscal reform and accountability, has not conceded, and the final outcome remains in flux pending the counting of outstanding mail-in and provisional ballots.
While Crate’s probable re-election as mayor offers Democrats a symbolic victory, the reality on the ground speaks to Republican gains: all three GOP council candidates—Gregory J. Cohen, Perry Albanese, and Lisa Reina—secured commanding leads over their Democratic opponents.
Key Conservative Themes and Issues
• Republican council candidates campaigned hard on issues of overdevelopment, municipal spending discipline, and opposition to what they described as excessive reliance on short-term financial fixes by township leadership.
• Iannarone and her team pledged a Community Fiscal Oversight Committee and more transparent, resident-driven budget reviews, aiming to stem property tax increases and restrain government growth—issues that resonate with Ocean County’s conservative base.
Looking Ahead: Final Tally Pending
Mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day will be tallied through November 10, and provisional ballots will follow, so the results may shift—but as of now, Ocean County conservatives can point to a strong showing both at the polls and in the vote counts, particularly in the region’s largest and most closely contested municipality. The Brick Township mayoral race underscores voter concerns about fiscal management, overdevelopment, and control of local institutions, ensuring that conservative themes will remain front and center as the county moves forward.
Overall, while statewide turnout came in lower than recent gubernatorial contests, Ocean County’s numbers and close races showcase the county’s continuing importance as New Jersey’s conservative stronghold, with energized voters shaping the outcomes of local and county government for years to come.
