In the primary races for governor, the only contested clashes on the ballot in Princeton, Phil Murphy, former Goldman Sachs executive and ambassador to Germany, easily defeated his Democratic opponents, and New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno eked out a close victory over Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli to gain the Republican nomination.

According to unofficial results, Mr. Murphy and Ms. Guadagno will be the candidates in the November 7 election for the four-year term to succeed Governor Chris Christie.  According to the Mercer County Clerk’s Office, with 94 percent (228 of 243) of districts reporting, Mr. Murphy received 10,488 votes or 45 percent of the vote, while John Wisniewski got 5,784 or 25 percent in the Democratic primary. Jim Johnson earned 5,396 votes, Raymond J. Lesniak 746, Bill Brennan 482, and Mark Zinna 158. 

For the GOP, Ms. Guadagno received 2,272 votes or 40 percent, Mr. Ciattarelli 2,073 or 36 percent, Hirsh Singyh 557, Steven Rogers 543, and Joseph R. Rullo 252.

In the vote for two open positions for a three-year term on Princeton Council, Leticia Fraga and David E. Cohen, both Democrats, were unopposed. There were no Republican candidates.

Unopposed winners in the 16th District State Senate primary were incumbent Christopher “Kip” Bateman for the Republicans and Democrat Laurie Poppe. In the races for the nomination for two New Jersey General Assembly seats in the 16th District, also unopposed in both parties, incumbent Andrew Zwicker and Roy Freiman will represent the Democrats and Donna M. Simon and Mark Caliguire will represent the Republicans.

In the election for sheriff, John A. “Jack” Kemler will be on the ballot for the Democrats in November, and Charles “Chuck” Farina will run for the Republicans. In the race for two positions on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Lucylle R.S. Walter and John A. Cimino will run for the Democrats and Jeff Hewitson and Michelle Noone will represent the GOP.