Updated: Montgomery Township Primary Election Sets Field for Fall Showdown
Barragan and Martin Win Democratic Primary; Venis and DeSanctis Advance Unopposed on GOP Ticket
By Nicholas Mistretta
Montgomery, NJ – June 11, 2025 — With the conclusion of Tuesday night’s primary election, the race for Montgomery Township Committee is now officially underway for the fall general election. Democratic incumbents Vincent Barragan and Michael Martin successfully defended their seats in a contested primary, while Republicans Chris Venis and George DeSanctis secured their nominations in an uncontested race.
Barragan led the Democratic field with 1,267 votes, followed by Martin with 1,207. Challengers Amanda Baumunk and Mazhar Syed earned 809 and 578 votes, respectively.
Headline News Montgomery reached out to all parties:
In a joint statement, Barragan and Martin expressed gratitude for the strong showing of support.
“Mike and I are humbled by the overwhelmingly, decisive support received from Montgomery residents in this year’s primary election – thank you so much!” said Barragan. “We are also excited for NJ gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill’s and LD16 Assembly members Roy Freiman’s and Mitchelle Drulis’ victories – they have been amazing partners throughout the primary. Finally, we would like to congratulate Amanda Baumunk and Mazhar Syed for running a spirited campaign. Now is the time for unity in Montgomery so we can tackle the issues facing our residents.”
From the Baumunk and Syed campaign
“We are proud to have participated in one of the first competitive Democratic primaries in Montgomery history, and look forward to the potential for fresh voices in a post-county line New Jersey. Although the results are not what we hoped for, we are proud to have run on a platform of transparency, environmental protection, and progressive local government.
We congratulate Mike Martin and Vince Barragan on their victory and wish them the best in the general election this November. We hope to continue the conversation with them and all Montgomery community members on the future we want to build for our township.
Thank you to the voters who put their faith in our leadership. Thanks to those who knocked on doors, made phone calls, and donated to make this campaign possible. We are grateful for your support!”
On the Republican side
Chris Venis and George DeSanctis moved forward uncontested, setting the stage for a head-to-head contest in November.
Chris Venis commented “I want to thank my fellow residents of Montgomery for putting their faith in myself and George De Sanctis. George and I are in this race because the residents are seeking a change in direction, common sense policies with Real Experience and Real Leadership.”
DeSanctis added, “We are very excited about the enthusiasm that Montgomery residents have shown for the Republican ticket. We are thrilled to move forward toward the election in the fall. Along the way, we will elaborate further on our common-sense policies that will benefit all Montgomery residents.”
The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2025, with two seats on the Montgomery Township Committee up for grabs. With the field now set, Montgomery voters will head into election season with both slates of candidates prepared to address pressing local issues—from public safety and development to fiscal transparency and community engagement.
Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com