With Donald Trump winning Atlantic County, Republicans largely held the county commissioner seat and had a good lead in the county commissioner race, which was designed to give Democrats an advantage.

Republican Michael Ruffu, a former deputy prosecutor, defeated Democrat Kim O’Brien to retain the at-large seat held by retired Republican Frank Balles. Ruffo leads with a five-point lead with 5,946 votes.

In the District 2 commissioner race, incumbent Maureen Kern leads Democrat Joanne Famularo by 851 votes, 51%-48%. The 2022 round of redistricting placed Pleasantville in its own district, making it a district Joe Biden won by 15 points in 2020.

Another Republican, James Bertino, was re-elected with 65 percent of the vote against Democrat Susan Lazarchick.

Currently, Republicans, led by County Chairman Don Purdy and State Sen. Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor County), hold an 8-1 majority. Commissioner Ernest Coursey, the regional county commissioner, remains the only Democrat to hold a county office in Atlantic.

Republicans also won a city council seat in Atlantic City and elected Absecon’s GOP mayor for the first time in 36 years.

Trump is the first Republican to carry Atlantic County since 1988. She leads Kamala Harris by 4,883 votes, 51%-47%.

Republican Curtis Bashaw won Atlantic County with 2,839 votes, 50%-48%, over Democrat Andy Kim. In New Jersey’s 2nd district, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) won Atlantic County by more than 10,000 votes and 9 points.