The Ballot Brief
Bergen County, New Jersey

Bergen County Executive

2 candidates are tracked for Bergen County Executive on the November 3, 2026 ballot: James J. Tedesco III and Todd H. Hennessey. Candidate information follows official Bergen County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Democratic incumbent James J. Tedesco III, first elected in 2015 and now seeking a fourth term, faces Republican Todd H. Hennessey on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Bergen County Clerk's official countywide candidate list. Neither faced primary opposition; the Bergen County GOP struggled to recruit a candidate before finding Hennessey, per New Jersey Globe.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. Every voter in Bergen County votes on this seat. The sitting officeholder, James J. Tedesco III, is on the ballot.

New Jersey › Bergen County › Bergen County Executive

James J. Tedesco III

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Tedesco has served as Bergen County Executive since first winning election in 2015 and is seeking a fourth term in 2026, per the county's official website. During his tenure the county launched its first countywide Emergency Medical Service and Bergen became the first county in the nation to end veteran homelessness, per the same source. He has been endorsed for re-election by more than 100 Bergen County Democratic elected officials and party leaders, per InsiderNJ. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for James J. Tedesco III.

Todd H. Hennessey

Republican

Biography

Hennessey is retired from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and previously worked in Hudson County government, including as an executive assistant to the Jersey City mayor, per the Bergen County Republican Organization. He served on the Rutherford Planning Board for more than a decade and sits on the Rutherford Republican County Committee, per the same source. He emerged as the Republican nominee for county executive after the party initially struggled to recruit a challenger to Tedesco, per New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Todd H. Hennessey.

Next on your ballotBergen County Clerk

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Voting info and more

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Bergen County Executive in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Bergen County Executive on the November 3, 2026 ballot: James J. Tedesco III and Todd H. Hennessey. Candidate information follows official Bergen County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Bergen County Executive election in New Jersey?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for New Jersey are on the New Jersey election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Bergen County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Bergen County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official New Jersey election office, or see the full Bergen County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Bergen County ballot

4 tracked races in Bergen County, New Jersey. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Bergen County SurrogateBergen County CommissionerSee all 4 Bergen County races
Candidate profiles
James J. Tedesco III, full profileTodd H. Hennessey, full profileOfficial New Jersey election office