The Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 2nd District is heating up, with businessman and attorney Joseph Salerno currently holding a slim lead of 401 votes over civil rights attorney Tim Alexander. The winner of this primary will face Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew in the November general election, making this race crucial for both parties.

As the vote count stands, there are still 1,803 mail-in ballots that remain uncounted due to a controversy surrounding their early opening by the Atlantic County Board of Elections. The decision on whether to count these ballots now rests with Judge Michael Blee, who is expected to make a ruling on Friday.

Democrats are pushing for all the outstanding mail-in ballots to be counted, arguing that voters should not be penalized for the mistake made by the Board of Elections. However, Republicans are seeking an investigation into the matter, as they believe that the integrity of the election process has been compromised.

Despite the ongoing controversy, Joseph Salerno seems to have a mathematical edge over Tim Alexander even if the mail-in ballots are counted. With the judge’s decision looming, the outcome of this primary will have a significant impact on the November election against Jeff Van Drew.

Stay tuned for the latest updates as we await Judge Blee’s ruling and the final results of this closely contested race in New Jersey’s 2nd District.