TOMS RIVER, NJ – Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore suffered multiple defeats at Wednesday night’s political convention in Toms River.
Gilmore sought to decertify the Republicans of Toms River last night, but fell short.
The Republicans of Toms River received 116 votes from Ocean County GOP Council voters who chose to maintain their allegiance with the newly formed Republican Club. Gilmore’s aligned club, the Toms River Regular Republicans, who were decertified during a similar process under the leadership of former GOP Chairman Frank B. Holman.
Gilmore appeared confident that he had the votes necessary to win the vote heading into Wednesday night’s meeting, but Republicans in Toms River, Lakewood, and Jackson, three of the largest voting districts in the county, sided against Gilmore.
During the convention, Gilmore-aligned assembly candidates Ruthanne Scatturo and Ashley Lamb were defeated by incumbent assemblyman Greg McGuckin and Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Paul Kanitra.
Kanitra and McGuckin will now hold the party line.
Today, Gilmore will meet with party leaders to discuss the plan moving forward. Gilmore did not say whether or not he will continue to fight members of his own party and run challenges against his own party line or whether he will move forward and work to bring the Republican organization together after a brutal four-year civil war that ignited after he was convicted in federal court on a tax-related charge.
Gilmore was eventually pardoned by former President Donald J. Trump and returned to power after a close election win over Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy for the chairmanship in 2022.
The win was also big for the Republicans for Toms River, who will receive the party line in this year’s primary election for mayor and council there.
Gilmore did not say whether his decertified club will challenge the county organization’s decision by running candidates in the primary against his own party.
In a more reasonable tone, Brick GOP President Ruthanne Scatturo, who was defeated last night said the party has spoken and indicated she will not run against the party-endorsed candidates for assembly.
Republicans voted for Berkeley Mayor Carmen Amato to run for state senate and Frank Sadeghi for county commissioner. Both men won their elections uncontested and have respectable reputations on both sides of the GOP aisle in Ocean County.
