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DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR NJ-11 SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION
John Bartlett, Passaic County Commissioner & voting rights attorney
Facebook​​
Zach Beecher, Former Paratrooper & Venture Capitalist
J-L Cauvin, community advocate, lawyer and comedian, former assistant district attorney
Cammie Croft, Worked in Obama White House & for Amnesty International, nonprofit executive
Dean Dafis, Maplewood Township Councilman & former Mayor, state Government leader, attorney​
Brendan Gill, Essex County Commissioner, campaign strategist, public affairs practitioner
Jeff Grayzell, First Democratic Mayor of Morris Township, current Committeeman, engineer
Instagram​
Takesha Way, Lt. Governor/ Secretary of State
Anna Lee Williams, nonprofit & corporate social impact program organizer and advocate
Instagram​
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Thirteen Democrats, One Republican File to Make NJ-11 Special Election Ballot by Joey Fox, New Jersey Globe, December 1, 2025
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Rush is on to run for Sherrill's congressional seat by Brenda Flanagan, Senor Correspondent, NJ Spotlight News, November 18, 2025
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Murphy sets Feb 5 primary, April 16 general for NJ-11 special election by Joey Fox, New Jersey Globe, November 21, 2025
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Special election dates set for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District by Sal DiMaggio, Editor, Morris NewBee online, November 21, 2025
Mon., Dec. 1: Candidate Petitions due
Thurs., Jan 29 - Tues., Feb. 3: Early Voting for Special Primary Election
​Thurs., Feb 5: SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION
Mon., April 6 - Tues., April 14: Early Voting for Special General Election
​Thurs., April 16: SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION
See EVENTS for Meet & Greets with the candidates.
OFFICIALS
Mayor Jason Karr
Mayor Jason Karr has represented Morris Plains residents since 2007 and is the longest serving Democrat in the history of the Borough. He has served as mayor of Morris Plains since January 3, 2019. Previously, he served as Councilman in the following roles: as Council President (2010 & 2015); as Chair of the Public Welfare, Sanitation and Sewers Committee; as Chair of the Finance Committee (2010-2019); and as a member of the Morris Plains Affordable Housing and the Shared Services Committees.
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Contact Mayor Karr here.
Councilmember Bill Houston
Bill began his term on the Council on January 7, 2025. He is the father of two, served as a petty officer in the Coast Guard, and has a 20+ year career as a technology specialist and project manager in large financial institutions. He was previously a volunteer with the Morris Plains Fire Department. Bill currently is the chair of the Ordinance and Public Utilities Committee with responsibilities for ordinances, street lights, the Zoning Officer, and the building, plumbing, and fire sub-code officials. He also is a member of the Planning Board and is the Council liaison to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
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Contact Councilmember Houston here.
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Mike was appointed to the Council on January 30, 2025. He, his wife, Kerri, and their three young children have been Morris Plains residents for twelve years. Mike is an engineer who has worked at Picatinny Arsenal, for a private engineering consulting firm, and is currently with a Morristown company. He has served on the Morris Plains Green Team and is a Little League coach. Mike is currently chair of the Public Health, Sanitation and Sewers Committee and is serving as the Council liaison to the Board of Health, the Municipal Alliance, the Teen Center, and the Recycling Committee.
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Contact Councilmember Ivey here.
Councilmember Tyler Pontier
Tyler was sworn in to the Council on January 7, 2025. He and his wife have two children in Morris Plains schools. He is a member of the Morris Plains Rotary Club and maintains a real estate practice in town. Tyler is currently chair of the Public Safety Committee and is serving as a liaison to the Police and Fire Departments and the Fire Prevention Bureau, the municipal court, and the Local Emergency Planning and Traffic Committees.
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Contact Councilmember Pontier here.
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A Morris Plains resident for 27 years, Nancy Verga is a married mom of four and a corporate communicator with a long record of public service in our school, youth and government organizations. She was elected to the Council in January 2020. She is a founding member of the Borough Website Committee which launched a redesigned website in 2021 and online payments in 2022. Nancy also helped initiate the Borough's Business Development Committee, the first of its kind to connect with and support our small businesses and build a framework to attract new businesses. Nancy was appointed by the Council to be its President in 2024. She is currently Chair of the Finance Committee which oversees the borough clerk, attorney, tax collector and tax assessor, the website, Plains Talk, elections and the Morris Plains Library.
Contact Councilmember Verga here.
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Learn more about your municipal government
By-Laws of the Council of the Borough of Morris Plains
Overview of the Council Member Position
Borough of Morris Plains Volunteer Opportunities
NJ Municipalities Magazine Article - Forms of Government: The Borough Form (NJSA 40A:60-1)
NJ State League of Municipalities: FAQs -The Borough Form of Government
Senator Cory Booker
Senator Andy Kim
To register to vote, to download an application for a mail-in ballot, to find the locations of Morris County drop boxes or early voting sites and hours, click below.