Ten-term incumbent Republican Frank LoBiondo and Democrat William Hughes Jr. won convincing victories in the primary election Tuesday, and the stage is set for a race for LoBiondo’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
LoBiondo captured 81.6 percent of the Republican vote in Cape May County in a victory over Mike Assad. Hughes took 84.6 percent of the Democratic vote in a win over David Cole. Similar numbers were reported throughout the Second Congressional District.
Hughes is expected to be LoBiondo’s most formidable challenger since he took office in 1994. An Ocean City native and Atlantic City lawyer, Hughes, 46, hopes to win the Congressional seat held by his father from 1974 until LoBiondo took office.
With few tightly contested races, voter turnout in Cape May County was only 8.46 percent for the primary.
Results from Cape May County (which reflect overall winners) include the following:
REPUBLICAN
U.S. Senate (Vote for One)
- Jeff Bell: 60.41 percent
- Brian D. Goldberg: 7.41 percent
- Richard J. Pezzullo: 22.26 percent
- Murray Sabrin: 9.56 percent
U.S. House of Representatives (Vote for One)
- Mike Assad: 18.39 percent
- Frank A. LoBiondo: 81.59 percent
Cape May County Sheriff (Vote for One)
- Gary G. Schaffer: 99.75 percent
Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders (Vote for Two)
- Kristine Gabor: 50.10 percent
- Will Morey: 49.58 percent
DEMOCRATIC
U.S. Senate (Vote for One)
- Cory Booker: 99.54 percent
U.S. House of Representatives (Vote for One)
- William J. Hughes Jr.: 84.64 percent
- David H. Cole: 15.24 percent
Cape May County Sheriff (Vote for One)
- No Petition Filed
Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders (Vote for Two)
- No Petition Filed
- No Petition Filed
Democratic County Committee Reps from Ocean City
- Joseph Ferstch
- Margaret Kendrick
- Joan Ahern
- Edward Kaczmarski
- Jeffrey April
- Jeffrey Sutherland
- Bob Barr