Big names to represent Republicans in 2026 county election

Two prominent figures in the Cape May County political and business world will run in the 2026 election for the Cape May County Board of Commissioners in what is shaping up as a major shift in Republican leadership.

Former North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello and former U.S. Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw will look to fill two seats on the Board of Commissioners now held by Republicans Will Morey and Melanie Collette.

“We have an ‘embarrassment of riches’ when it comes to the talent in our ranks. To have Patrick Rosenello and Curtis Bashaw step into the arena together is a game-changer for Cape May County. These are proven leaders who have already shaped the face of our community,” Cape May County Republican Chairman Michael Donohue said in a news release.

The announcement comes as Republican incumbents Morey and Collette prepare to leave the Board of Commissioners at the end of 2026.

Morey, president and CEO of the Morey’s Piers amusement and entertainment franchise on the Wildwood Boardwalk, will retire from the board after serving for 15 years. He had originally planned to wrap up his political career after 12 years but decided to stay one more term to ensure a smooth transition, according to the release.

Collette, who made history as the first Black female commissioner in Cape May County, announced she will not seek re-election to focus on her expanding media career and her growing portfolio with Newsmax and other national outlets.

“This decision came after a lot of reflection. There are opportunities I’ve been putting off that I can finally explore, but only if I step away from the commissioner board. That said, I am committed to finishing out my final year with energy, integrity, and focus, just as I always have,” Collette said in a statement on her Facebook page.

    County Commissioner Melanie Collette is leaving the board at the end of the year to focus on her growing media career.
  

She added that she is proud to support Rosenello and Bashaw, calling them exceptional leaders who will move Cape May County forward.

Following a Jan. 7 deadline for letters of intent, Donohue informed the county’s Republican leadership that Rosenello and Bashaw have officially stepped forward to run for the Board of Commissioners.

The five-member board has been dominated by the GOP for years in heavily Republican Cape May County. It is the elected body that oversees the county government.

Rosenello and Bashaw will join a “powerhouse” Republican ticket alongside Congressman Jeff Van Drew and Cape May County Sheriff Bob Nolan in the 2026 election, the release stated.

“As we look to the future, the energy behind the Rosenello-Bashaw ticket is a testament to the strength and unity of CapeGOP,” Donohue said.

Rosenello was elected to the North Wildwood City Council in 2004 and served for 10 years on the governing body, including nine as its president. He became North Wildwood mayor in 2014 and served for 12 years. He decided not to seek re-election as mayor in 2025, but returned to City Council this year.

   Will Morey is retiring from the Board of Commissioners after serving for 15 years.   

Professionally, Rosenello is the owner of a private business management company and also serves as a partner in a group that owns and operates several restaurants in South Jersey.

Bashaw gained statewide and national exposure in politics while running for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey in 2024. He was defeated by Democrat Andy Kim.

He has experience in the public sector as the former executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the agency that uses revenue from Atlantic City’s gaming industry for development projects in the resort.

Bashaw is also well-known as the founder and managing partner of Cape Resorts, a company that owns and operates several hotels in Cape May, among them Congress Hall, The Virginia Hotel and The Star.

The historically significant Congress Hall dates to 1816 and gained fame as a summer retreat for some of the U.S. presidents, including Ulysses S. Grant, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and Benjamin Harrison.