IS SOUTH BERGEN BRACING FOR A BLUE WAVE? 

IS SOUTH BERGEN BRACING FOR A BLUE WAVE? 

Democrats in North Arlington, Carlstadt & Wallington believe their chances are excellent to dismantle all-Republican majorities. 

NORTH ARLINGTON – Once Democratic strongholds, local Democrats are enthusiastic and motivated in neighboring Carlstadt and Wallington as many believe the race for Mayor & Council has become a “toss-up” as GOP Mayor Dan Pronti is now flip-flopping on his massive overdevelopment of Ridge Road.

Democratic mayoral hopeful John Balwierczak is seen here with Carlstadt council candidate Walter Beese, a retired borough police lieutenant whose father was a councilmember and Walter Wargacki, Jr whose Dad was the popular and longtime mayor of Wallington.

The three candidates are pictured with former Oakland Mayor Linda Schwager, the Democratic candidate for Surrogate Court Judge. She is a former president of the Bergen County Bar Association.

In all three races, Democrats believe a “blue wave” is potentially developing as President Donald Trump’s personal popularity has reached historic lows. Even local Republicans in North Arlington are avoiding the top of their own ticket, choosing instead to run candidates in the non-partisan race for two seats on the Board of Education.

“Politics has no place in Board of Education contests. Pronti is running partisan players with no record of educational leadership or management,” noted Balwierczak.

In an e-mail to voters, NA Republicans highlighted the bottom of the ticket, seeking to avoid any connection to the top of their ticket for US Senator, Congress, County Executive, Clerk and seats on the Bergen County Board of Supervisors.

“They see the handwriting on the wall. Their terrible record on taxes, overdevelopment and property reassessments can’t be denied. Coupled with the murders on Ridge Road and the federal drug raid on the Belleville Pike, they are clearly vulnerable,” offered Balwierczak, a lifelong resident and graduate of NAHS who is running with homeowners Dennis Papile and Cengiz “Jim” Sever.

The race is particularly interesting because Carlstadt has been Republican at the top of the ticket recently. Trump carried the borough by about 18 points in 2024, while Jack Ciattarelli carried it by about 3 points in 2025.

Wallington is considerably more Republican than Carlstadt at the presidential level. Trump carried it by nearly 30 points in 2024, and Jack Ciattarelli carried it by about 6 points in 2025.

But there are real indicators of a strong Democratic environment, as many observers believe Republican Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr is clearly at risk as Congressman Nellie Pou (D-9) had a difficult challenge two years ago, but is now breezing back for a third term.

NJ Governor Mikie Sherrill carried Bergen County with about 55%, after Trump had carried it by only about four points in 2024. That represented a substantial Democratic shift in the county’s top-of-ticket vote.

While Trump won NA by landslide proportions in 2024, Sherrill defeated Ciattarelli the GOP nominee last year that even saw local Democrats carry three of the borough’s 10 election precincts.

Democrats themselves are explicitly organizing around a “Blue Wave” strategy for 2026, including a Bergen County virtual phone bank aimed at electing Democrats from local council through the U.S. Senate. That’s evidence of Democratic mobilization which locals in North Arlington, Wallington and Carlstadt are clearly motivated.

And while North Arlington is legitimately in play for local Democrats in 2026, although the evidence supports calling it “competitive” rather than predicting a Democratic victory.

“We are taking no chances. We are cautiously optimistic and are working very hard,” noted Balwierczak.

The most important fact is the huge change between the 2024 presidential and 2025 gubernatorial elections:

Republicans currently hold all seven governing-body seats, and no Democrat has served on the governing body since 2019.

But the 2025 gubernatorial result is significant.

North Arlington went from Trump +13 in 2024 to Sherrill narrowly carrying the borough in 2025. That’s an enormous change in the top-of-ticket Democratic vote within one election cycle.

And the June primary is another interesting indicator:

Balwierczak: 523

Pronti: 523

Papile: 478

Bocchino: 442

Sever: 416

Karcic: 416

For North Arlington, three things could determine whether the Democratic surge seen in 2025 carries into the municipal races:

1. Property taxes and the 2026 budget — particularly whether voters connect the tax burden to the current governing majority.
2. Development/apartments  including OPUS and other redevelopment proposals. This is potentially a strong local issue because it cuts across conventional party lines.
3. The Pronti–Balwierczak contest whether it remains a traditional Republican-vs.-Democrat race or becomes primarily a referendum on the Pronti administration in wake of the Ridge Road murders and federal drug raid on the Belleville Turnpike.

North Arlington has moved from being a clearly Republican local environment to a municipality where the 2025 numbers demonstrate genuine Democratic competitiveness.

But the historical Republican control of the governing body, combined with the borough’s Republican presidential voting pattern, means the 2026 municipal election should be treated as an open competitive race, and that has Pronti clearly concerned and worried.

Contact John Balwierczak on his personal mobile phone at (201) 655-8497 or via e-mail at [email protected]

Keeping North Arlington small, safe, suburban and affordable!

Vote for the change we need on Tuesday, November 3rd.