<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=25ixft_1GxVj8Yi00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=25ixft_1GxVj8Yi00" width="580" height="447" ><figcaption>Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento. (Photo: Jason Cilento).</figcaption></figure>Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento is gathering support for a bid for the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the 21st legislative district, where Republicans are seeking to reclaim two seats they held for 50 years before losing them in 2025, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.Cilento could join Warren Township Committeeman Daniel Croson, who announced his candidacy on Monday, giving Republicans a slate of two young local elected officials running with State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield).Democrats Andrew Macurdy (D-Summit) and Vincent Kearney (D-Garwood) defeated Republican incumbents Nancy Muñoz and Michele Matsikoudis last year, ending a half-century of GOP control of the district’s Assembly seats.Cilento, a lifelong Dunellen resident, was first elected to the Borough Council at age 20 and served nine years, including as council president, before becoming mayor in 2020.He is president of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors and serves on the legislative committee of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.As mayor, Cilento has focused on downtown redevelopment, infrastructure improvements and environmental initiatives. His administration has attracted twelve development projects representing more than $170 million in investment and secured more than $8 million in grants.Croson, a former deputy mayor and school board president, has already secured endorsements from Republican municipal chairs in seven towns and more than two dozen current and former elected officials.The 21st district, which includes portions of Union, Somerset, Morris and Middlesex counties, has become increasingly Democratic.Gov. Mikie Sherrill carried the district by nearly 12,000 votes last year, and Democratic congressional candidates collectively won by 23 percentage points in last week’s midterm elections.Bramnick, who has represented the district in the Legislature since 2003, faces a Republican primary challenge from Peapack-Gladstone Councilman Conor Sweeney.On the Democratic side, Union County Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded is seeking the Senate nomination, while Macurdy is considering a Senate bid.Matsikoudis has not announced whether she will seek to regain her Assembly seat.</div></body>

Block Source: New Jersey Globe

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Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento is gathering support for a bid for the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the 21st legislative district, where Republicans are seeking to reclaim two seats they held for 50 years before losing them in 2025, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed. Cilento could join Warren...

Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento exploring Assembly bid in 21st district

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Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento is gathering support for a bid for the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the 21st legislative district, where Republ

Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento exploring Assembly bid in 21st district

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