The Ballot Brief
Union County, New Jersey

Union County Commissioner

6 candidates are tracked for Union County Commissioner on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joseph C. Bodek, Lourdes Leon, Michele S. Delisfort, Cathy Jakositz, Christopher G. Bacey and Miguel A. Rodriguez. Candidate information follows official Union County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Three seats up for three-year terms. Democratic incumbents Joseph Bodek (Chairman), Lourdes Leon, and Michele Delisfort won renomination in the June 2, 2026 primary (Leon 35,021 votes/35.81%, Delisfort 31,773/32.49%, Bodek 30,451/31.14%), per the Union County Clerk's certified primary results. They face Republicans Cathy Jakositz (7,270 votes/35.08%), Christopher Bacey (6,719/32.42%), and Miguel Rodriguez (6,626/31.97%) in November, per the same results. Republicans have not won a Union County commissioner (formerly freeholder) seat since 1995, 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. Sitting officeholders on the ballot: Joseph C. Bodek, Lourdes Leon, Michele S. Delisfort.

New Jersey › Union County › Union County Commissioner

Joseph C. Bodek

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

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.

Lourdes Leon

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

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.

Michele S. Delisfort

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

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.

Cathy Jakositz

Republican

Biography

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.

Christopher G. Bacey

Republican

Biography

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.

Miguel A. Rodriguez

Republican

Biography

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.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Union County Commissioner in 2026?

6 candidates are tracked for Union County Commissioner on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joseph C. Bodek, Lourdes Leon, Michele S. Delisfort, Cathy Jakositz, Christopher G. Bacey and Miguel A. Rodriguez. Candidate information follows official Union County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Union 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 Union 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 Union County and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Union County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Elizabeth City Council, Second WardElizabeth City Council, Third WardElizabeth City Council, Fourth WardSee all 10 Union County races
Candidate profiles
Joseph C. Bodek, full profileLourdes Leon, full profileMichele S. Delisfort, full profileCathy Jakositz, full profileChristopher G. Bacey, full profileMiguel A. Rodriguez, full profileOfficial New Jersey election office