Union County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026

Cooper is chief community development officer at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, where she leads communications and policy engagement strategy, per the NJEDA's official biography. She previously served as deputy chief policy adviser to Governor Phil Murphy, chief policy adviser to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, senior aide to U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, and chief of staff to the mayor of Orange, per the NJEDA and Union County Life. A Fanwood resident, she holds a bachelor's degree in urban planning from Rutgers University and a master's in urban planning from NYU, per the NJEDA. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Tai Cooper.

Diaz, a Linden resident, won the Republican primary nomination for Linden mayor in June 2026 before withdrawing from that race, saying it was "in Linden's best interest to remove myself from the ballot," per Union County Life. His withdrawal from the mayoral race unified Republican support behind his county clerk candidacy, per New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Jimmy Diaz, Jr.

Peter Corvelli, Jr. is the sitting Union County Sheriff, a Kenilworth resident with more than 27 years of law enforcement experience who previously served as Assistant Director in the Union County Department of Corrections, per the Sheriff's Office. He spent about three decades with the Hillside Police Department, retiring in 2016 as a Sergeant, and earlier worked as a state corrections officer at East Jersey State Prison; he also served more than seven years on the Kenilworth Borough Council beginning in 2006, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Napolitano, a Cranford resident, is the certified Republican nominee for Union County Sheriff. He previously ran for the office in 2023 and was outpolled by Corvelli, 62%-37%, per New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Gerardo Napolitano.

Bodek, of Linden, is Chairman of the Union County Board of County Commissioners, elected to the board in 2023, per the county's official commissioner biography. He worked as a store manager for Meat City Companies, spent more than 30 years as clerk to the Union County Utilities Authority overseeing solid waste operations, and served more than a decade as City Clerk of Linden, per the same source. He began public service in 1981 as a Linden Board of Education member. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Joseph C. Bodek.

Leon, a lifelong Elizabeth resident born in Cuba who immigrated with her parents in 1971, was elected to the Union County Board of County Commissioners in 2020, becoming the first Hispanic woman elected to the board, per the county's official commissioner biography. She spent more than 27 years in the Elizabeth School District, starting as a teacher's aide and rising to Principal of the Donald Stewart Early Childhood Center, before retiring from education in 2013, per the same source. She holds a master's degree in educational administration from Kean University. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Lourdes Leon.

Delisfort, of Union Township, is a Union County Commissioner and President of the American Planning Association-New Jersey Chapter, with 30 years of experience in urban planning and redevelopment, per the county's official commissioner biography. She previously served as Mayor of Union Township, where she oversaw redevelopment investments and led the township's COVID-19 pandemic response, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Michele S. Delisfort.

Jakositz, of Mountainside, is a former Mountainside Board of Education member. This is her second campaign for Union County Commissioner, after losing to the Democratic slate in 2023, per New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Cathy Jakositz.

Bacey, of Union Township, is a public relations specialist. This is his second bid for Union County Commissioner, after losing to the Democratic slate in 2025, per New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Christopher G. Bacey.

Rodriguez, of Elizabeth, is a member of the Union County Republican Committee running for county commissioner, per New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Miguel A. Rodriguez.

Carlos Torres appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Elizabeth City Council, First Ward, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Carlos Torres.

Glenn Maldonado appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Elizabeth City Council, Second Ward, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Glenn Maldonado.

Kevin Kiniery appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Elizabeth City Council, Third Ward, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Kevin Kiniery.

Carlos Cedeno appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Elizabeth City Council, Fourth Ward, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Carlos Cedeno.

William Gallman, Jr. appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Elizabeth City Council, Fifth Ward, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for William Gallman, Jr.

Mazza first won a seat on the Elizabeth City Council in 1984, served 12 years, and returned to the council in 2006, per New Jersey Globe. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Frank O. Mazza.

Janei Holder appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Elizabeth City Council, Sixth Ward, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Janei Holder.

Gonzalez Lugo, a lifelong Elizabeth resident, is Principal of New Brunswick Middle School after more than two decades in education, per the City of Elizabeth's official biography. She has served on the Elizabeth Planning Board since 2008 and in 2021 became the first woman to chair the board, per the same source. She holds two master's degrees, including one in educational administration from New Jersey City University, and was sworn in as an at-large councilwoman in July 2026, per TAPinto. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Georgette Gonzalez Lugo.

John Alves appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Elizabeth City Council, At-Large (Unexpired Term), per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for John Alves.