2026 Union County Election Guide: Who's Running for County Clerk, Board of Commissioners, Sheriff

Union County Life is publishing this guide to the candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot for county offices: the Board of County Commissioners, Sheriff, and County Clerk. The guide draws on TAPinto’s reporting and on candidates’ own published biographies, including social media pages and university profiles. Each background is attributed to its source.

Board of County Commissioners

Three incumbent Democrats face three Republican challengers for the board.

Democrats:

• Joseph C. Bodek, of Linden, chairs the board. He joined the board in 2022, when he was appointed to fill an open seat. He left his job as clerk of the county utilities to take the seat.

• Lourdes Leon, of Elizabeth, serves on the board. She was sworn in as chair in January 2025 and is the first Hispanic woman to lead the board. She was first elected in November 2020.

• Michele S. Delisfort, of Vauxhall, first won a seat on the board in 2023. She owns an urban planning consultancy and has more than 20 years of experience in land use, redevelopment, and community development planning. She chairs the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Redevelopment Planning Committee and previously served as vice chair of the Township of Union Planning Board.

Republicans:

• Christopher G. Bacey, of Union Township, works as a public relations specialist and is an adjunct professor at Montclair State University, where he teaches PR investigation and strategy. He taught at Kean University from 2020 to 2023. According to his Montclair State faculty page, he has more than 20 years of experience in public relations, corporate communications, and digital strategy.

• Miguel A. Rodriguez, of Elizabeth, is a member of the Union County Republican Committee. His Facebook page lists him as a financial professional and insurance agent.

• Cathy Jakositz, of Mountainside, is a former member of the Mountainside Board of Education. She was first elected in 2008, placing second of three candidates for two seats, and was re-elected in 2011.

Sheriff

• Peter Corvelli (D) is the incumbent sheriff. He lives in Kenilworth and has more than 27 years in law enforcement. He previously served as assistant director in the Union County Department of Corrections, and he was a police officer in Hillside, retiring in 2016 as a sergeant. He was first elected to the Kenilworth Borough Council in 2006.

• Gerardo “Jerry” Napolitano (R) is a Cranford resident and the Republican nominee. He ran for the same office in 2023 and was unopposed in the 2026 primary. His Facebook page describes him as a retired Newark Police lieutenant and a U.S. Navy veteran, and says two of his three children work in law enforcement.

County Clerk

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi died earlier this year at age 78 while serving in the office. She was first elected in 1995 and held the post for more than 30 years. Two candidates are running to succeed her.

• Tahirah “Tai” Cooper (D), of Fanwood, is chief community development officer at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, a post she has held since 2019. She previously served as deputy chief policy adviser to Gov. Murphy, where she led the state’s Federal Opportunity Zone initiative. She was earlier chief policy adviser to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

• Jimmy Diaz Jr. (R) originally won the Republican nomination for mayor of Linden, then withdrew. He said it was in the city’s interest to leave that ballot and focus on the County Clerk race. When he ran for mayor, he submitted a bio to TAP into Linden that listed three priorities: housing and senior stability, economic opportunity, and being a voice for the entire city.

The general election takes place Tuesday, Nov. 3. Union County voters can check their registration, find secure ballot drop boxes, and get other election information through the Union County Votes website.

For more Union County election information and local news, visit Union County Life at unioncountylife.com.

FAQ

Who is running for Union County Commissioner in 2026?
Three incumbent Democrats, Joseph C. Bodek, Lourdes Leon, and Michele S. Delisfort, face three Republican challengers, Christopher G. Bacey, Miguel A. Rodriguez, and Cathy Jakositz.

Who is running for Union County Sheriff?
Incumbent Democrat Peter Corvelli faces Republican Gerardo “Jerry” Napolitano.

Who is running for Union County Clerk?
Democrat Tahirah “Tai” Cooper and Republican Jimmy Diaz Jr. are running to succeed Joanne Rajoppi, who died earlier this year while serving in the office.

Where can I check my registration or find a drop box?
The Union County Votes website provides registration, secure ballot drop box locations, and other election information.