The Ballot Brief
Passaic County, New Jersey

Passaic County Commissioner

4 candidates are tracked for Passaic County Commissioner on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Orlando Cruz, Nick Veliky, Ed Leonard and John Rodriguez. Candidate information follows official Passaic County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Two three-year seats are up in 2026. Democratic incumbent Orlando Cruz, first sworn in as commissioner in 2023, and Democrat Nick Veliky, appointed earlier in 2026 to a Board of Commissioners vacancy and now seeking a full term, won their party's nomination at the June 2, 2026 primary and face Republicans Ed Leonard, a Wanaque councilman, and John Rodriguez, a former law enforcement official and NJ Transit locomotive engineer, per New Jersey Globe reporting. This is separate from the unexpired-term commissioner seat also on the November ballot (see below).

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. Sitting officeholders on the ballot: Orlando Cruz, Nick Veliky.

New Jersey › Passaic County › Passaic County Commissioner

Orlando Cruz

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Orlando Cruz is president of the Greater Paterson Chamber of Commerce and previously served as executive director of the Downtown Paterson Special Improvement District, per New Jersey Globe reporting. A Paterson native who attended Eastside High School, he began his career as a professional DJ before rising to chief operations officer at a Northeast entertainment company, per TAPinto Paterson. He was sworn in as Passaic County Commissioner in 2023. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Orlando Cruz.

Nick Veliky

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Nick Veliky was appointed to the Passaic County Board of County Commissioners in 2026 to fill the vacancy left by John Bartlett's resignation, per the West Milford Messenger. He works in marketing and business development, previously served as president of the Clifton Democratic Club, and is an ordained permanent deacon in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Nick Veliky.

Ed Leonard

Republican

Biography

Ed Leonard serves as Council President of the Wanaque Borough Council, where he chairs committees including Ordinances, Public Works, Sewer, and Veterans, per the borough's official website. He was selected as the Passaic County Republican Organization's nominee for county commissioner after original primary winner Daniel Sagan withdrew from the race, per New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Ed Leonard.

John Rodriguez

Republican

Biography

John Rodriguez is a former law enforcement official and a career New Jersey Transit locomotive engineer, per New Jersey Globe reporting on the Passaic County commissioner race. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for John Rodriguez.

Next on your ballotPassaic County Commissioner (Unexpired Term)

See your full ballot

Your address is only used to match your districts.

Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Passaic County Commissioner in 2026?

4 candidates are tracked for Passaic County Commissioner on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Orlando Cruz, Nick Veliky, Ed Leonard and John Rodriguez. Candidate information follows official Passaic County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Passaic County Commissioner 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 Passaic 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 Passaic County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Passaic County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Passaic County SurrogateSee all 3 Passaic County races
Candidate profiles
Orlando Cruz, full profileNick Veliky, full profileEd Leonard, full profileJohn Rodriguez, full profileOfficial New Jersey election office