The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Incumbent state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) easily won election to his first full term in the lower house in the Nov. 3 election.
Danielsen’s running mate, Joseph Egan of New Brunswick, also won his re-election bid.
Danielsen was chosen by the district Democrats to replace former Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula upon the latter’s appointment to a seat on the state Board of Public Utilities.
The 17th Legislative District is comprised of Franklin, Milltown, New Brunswick, North Brunswick and Piscataway.
Overall, Danielsen received 13,315 votes, while Eagan received 13,333 votes.
In Franklin Township, with all but the 23rd district reporting, Danielsen received 5,274 votes and Eagan received 5,119 votes.
On the Republican side, Robert Mettler – also a township resident – received a total of 6,302 votes and Brajesh Singh received 5,383 votes.
In the township, Mettler received 2,863 votes and Singh received 2,319 votes.
Green Party candidate Molly O’Brien received 974 votes altogether, and 311 in Franklin.
Danielsen said the victory belonged to the Democratic Party.
“It’s just my order to go to work,” he said. “I will earn their trust every single day.”
