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Tai Cooper of Fanwood and Jimmy Diaz of Linden are competing for the Union County Clerk position in an election scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The race follows the death of Joanne Rajoppi on July 16 at age 78. Rajoppi served as county clerk for more than 30 years and was the first woman elected to the office.

The clerk's office administers elections, processes passport applications, and maintains property, business, and other public records. Deputy County Clerk Clara Fernández is carrying out the clerk's duties during the vacancy.

Diaz won the GOP primary nomination for mayor of Linden in June but withdrew from that race. "I am withdrawing as a candidate for Mayor of Linden," he posted on Facebook. "Because of my love for Linden and the need for change, I feel that it is in Linden's best interest to remove myself from the ballot."

Cooper is chief community development officer for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. She previously served as deputy chief policy adviser to Gov. Phil Murphy and chief policy adviser to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Cooper also worked as a senior aide to the late U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and as chief of staff to the mayor of Orange. She holds degrees in urban planning from Rutgers University and New York University. The Fanwood Democratic Committee publicly backed Cooper, citing her "promise to continue the legacy of professionalism, access to elections, and many other services championed by the late Joanne Rajoppi."

Rajoppi's career in public service spanned decades. She was first elected county clerk in 1995 and took the oath of office seven times during her tenure. Before becoming clerk, Rajoppi served on the Springfield Board of Education and Township Committee, became Springfield's first woman mayor in 1977, and later served as a Union County freeholder, assistant New Jersey secretary of state, and Union County register of deeds and mortgages.

Under New Jersey law, the successor elected following a county clerk vacancy receives a new five-year term rather than serving only the remainder of the former clerk's term.

Union County Life covers Union County government, elections, and community news. Find more Union County election information and civic news on Union County Life.

Photo Credit: Linden Police Department

FAQ

Q: Who are the candidates for Union County Clerk?
A: Tai Cooper of Fanwood and Jimmy Diaz of Linden are competing for the Union County Clerk position in the November 3, 2026 election.

Q: When is the Union County Clerk election?
A: The election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Q: Why is there a vacancy in the county clerk position?
A: Joanne Rajoppi, who served as county clerk for more than 30 years, died on July 16, 2026, at age 78. She was the first woman elected to the office and took the oath of office seven times during her tenure.

Q: Who is currently serving as county clerk?
A: Deputy County Clerk Clara Fernández is carrying out the clerk's duties during the vacancy.

Q: What is Tai Cooper's background?
A: Cooper is chief community development officer for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. She previously served as deputy chief policy adviser to Gov. Phil Murphy and chief policy adviser to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. She also worked as a senior aide to the late U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and as chief of staff to the mayor of Orange. She holds degrees in urban planning from Rutgers University and New York University.

Q: What is Jimmy Diaz's political background?
A: Diaz won the GOP primary nomination for mayor of Linden in June 2026 but withdrew from that race, saying he felt it was in Linden's best interest to remove himself from the ballot.

Q: Who has endorsed Tai Cooper?
A: The Fanwood Democratic Committee publicly backed Cooper, citing her promise to continue the legacy of professionalism, access to elections, and other services championed by the late Joanne Rajoppi.

Q: What does the Union County Clerk do?
A: The clerk's office administers elections, processes passport applications, and maintains property, business, and other public records.

Q: How long is the county clerk term?
A: The successor elected following this vacancy receives a new five-year term rather than serving only the remainder of Rajoppi's term.

Q: What was Joanne Rajoppi's career before becoming county clerk?
A: Before becoming clerk, Rajoppi served on the Springfield Board of Education and Township Committee, became Springfield's first woman mayor in 1977, and later served as a Union County freeholder, assistant New Jersey secretary of state, and Union County register of deeds and mortgages.