Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio was re-elected to a third term without opposition despite losing what appears to be five seats in Tuesday’s election.
If leads by Democrats for one seat each in the 2nd and 25th districts hold, Republicans would be reduced to 23 members in the eight-member lower house – their lowest level since the Watergate scandal dropped them to fourteen after the 1973 election.
Republicans have lost eleven Assembly seats since DiMaio replaced Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) after the 2021 election.
Among the losers this week was Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz (R-Summit), who had served in the legislature for over sixteen years. DiMaio will need to replace Munoz as the Assembly Republican Budget officer
DiMario defeated Munoz for minority leader in 2021, 19-15.
Muñoz appeared to secure enough votes to win the post s after two of her opponents, DiMaio and then-Assemblyman Ned Thomson (R-Wall) agreed to run on a slate with her. DiMaio was slotted for conference leader, and Thomson was to be deputy minority leader. McClellan was picked for minority whip on the Muñoz team.
But Muñoz’s campaign began to unravel days later when conservative activists began objecting to a pro-choice Republican with positions on guns and vaccinations that are inconsistent with the GOP caucus to become their leader. As a result, Muñoz was unable to secure public endorsements from Thomson and DiMaio supporters who had been expected to join the deal.
Senate President Nicholas Scutari and Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz were re-elected by acclamation to a third term today. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin is expected to win a fifth term this morning.
