Kate Whitman scored her first victory today in the race for the 7th Congressional District seat, gaining the endorsement of Middlesex County Republicans.
But with Middlesex comprising only a nominal part of the 7th District, the biggest challenge facing the nine GOP candidates seeking the party's backing still awaits. On Thursday night, Somerset County Republicans, who comprise a significant chunk of the district, will weigh in with their choice.
The nine candidates are vying to succeed Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-7th Dist.), who has decided not to seek re-election. In addition to Middlesex and Somerset, the 7th District includes parts of Hunterdon and Union counties.
While only three Middlesex County towns -- Edison, South Plainfield and Woodbridge -- are in the 7th District, Whitman turned in a convincing win, receiving 56 percent of the vote on the first ballot. Whitman is the daughter of former Gov. Christie Whitman.
The party faithful also decided on county freeholder candidates, and candidates for the 6th and 12th congressional districts and the U.S. Senate during today's meeting at the Forge Inn in Woodbridge.
In the contest for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Frank Lautenberg, state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Morris) handily defeated Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin, 121 to 45. Pennacchio now adds the Middlesex organization line to his victories in Bergen, Hunterdon, Passaic and Union counties.
His win comes after a week former Goya Foods millionaire Andy Unanue entered the GOP race and proceeded to win the Republican endorsements in Ocean, Monmouth, Cape May and Atlantic counties.
Because there are only three towns in the 7th District, the congressional vote involved far fewer delegates.
Of the 85 ballots cast, Whitman took 48. Trailing far behind were former Summit Councilwoman P. Kelly Hatfield, with 17 votes; state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon), with 14; Scotch Plains Mayor Marty Marks with five votes and Watchung attorney Thomas Roughneen, who urged delegates not to support Whitman, with just one vote.
The Middlesex contest marked the first time none of the 7th District candidates had a home county advantage. Lance easily won the Hunterdon County committee's endorsement to run on the organization line, while Hatfield bested Marks for the party line in Union County.
In the race for the board of freeholders, the Middlesex committee gave the organization line to Lynda Woods-Cleary, Robert Thuring and Daniel Kerwin.
In the 6th Congressional District, the committee gave its blessing to Robert McLeod, while in the 12th Congressional District, awarded the organization line to Alan Bateman.