8 candidates are tracked for Essex County Commissioner At-Large on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Christine McGrath, Abdur R. Yasin, Deborah Engel, Wayne L. Richardson, Demetrius Eley, Daniela Ferreira Almeida, Douglas Freeman and Sahwa DeFrank. Candidate information follows official Essex County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
About this race
Four at-large seats are on the November 2026 ballot. In the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary, Christine McGrath (38,543 votes), Abdur Yasin (32,657), Deborah Engel (31,211) and incumbent Wayne Richardson (30,549) won the four nominations over Shawn Klein (28,773) and Marques-Aquil Lewis (19,444), per the New Jersey Globe; Engel's win was notable because she lacked the county Democratic organization's backing. Republicans Demetrius Eley, Daniela Ferreira Almeida, Douglas Freeman and Sahwa DeFrank were endorsed by the Essex County Republican Party for the four seats; Republicans have not won an at-large commissioner seat since 1971, per the 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. The sitting officeholder, Wayne L. Richardson, is on the ballot.
McGrath has served on the Verona Town Council since 2019 and chairs the Verona Democratic Committee, per search-aggregated local reporting. She has served as president of the Friends of the Verona Library and the Junior Woman's Club, co-created Verona Fights Hunger Week, and has been involved with the gun-violence-prevention group Moms Demand Action, per search-aggregated local reporting. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Christine McGrath.
AY
Abdur R. Yasin
Democratic
Biography
Yasin is a West Orange fire captain and serves as the West Orange Democratic Municipal Chairman, per search-aggregated local reporting. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Abdur R. Yasin.
DE
Deborah Engel
Democratic
Top priorities
Address rising costs of healthcare, housing, groceries, utilities, insurance and transportation
Expand shared services between municipalities to cut costs and improve efficiency
Invest in infrastructure, including complete streets, pedestrian and bike infrastructure, flood mitigation and EV charging
Per the per The Village Green candidate profile.
Biography
Deborah Engel is a longtime Maplewood and South Orange community leader who served three years on the Maplewood Township Committee, including one year as deputy mayor, and chaired the board of South Orange Downtown, per The Village Green. She founded two local businesses, Work and Play (a coworking space with childcare) and General Store Cooperative (a co-retail incubator for small businesses), and won her Democratic nomination in June 2026 without the county party's backing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Deborah Engel.
WR
Wayne L. Richardson
DemocraticIncumbent
Biography
Wayne L. Richardson is the incumbent Essex County Commissioner for one of the four at-large seats and was the only sitting at-large commissioner to seek re-election in 2026, per the New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Wayne L. Richardson.
DE
Demetrius Eley
Republican
Biography
Demetrius Eley of West Orange is one of four Republican nominees for the four at-large Essex County Commissioner seats, endorsed by the Essex County Republican Party. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the 34th Legislative District Assembly seat, per the New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Demetrius Eley.
DA
Daniela Ferreira Almeida
Republican
Biography
Daniela Ferreira Almeida is one of four Republican nominees for the four at-large Essex County Commissioner seats, endorsed by the Essex County Republican Party. She previously ran unsuccessfully for the 29th Legislative District Assembly seat, per the New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Daniela Ferreira Almeida.
DF
Douglas Freeman
Republican
Biography
Douglas Freeman of Newark is one of four Republican nominees for the four at-large Essex County Commissioner seats, endorsed by the Essex County Republican Party, per the New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Douglas Freeman.
SD
Sahwa DeFrank
Republican
Biography
Sahwa DeFrank of Newark is one of four Republican nominees for the four at-large Essex County Commissioner seats, endorsed by the Essex County Republican Party, per the New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Sahwa DeFrank.
Who is running for Essex County Commissioner At-Large in 2026?
8 candidates are tracked for Essex County Commissioner At-Large on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Christine McGrath, Abdur R. Yasin, Deborah Engel, Wayne L. Richardson, Demetrius Eley, Daniela Ferreira Almeida, Douglas Freeman and Sahwa DeFrank. Candidate information follows official Essex County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Essex County Commissioner At-Large 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 Essex 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 Essex County and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
