RAMSEY, NJ — November 7, 2026 — Four days after Election Day, the race for mayor of Ramsey remains undecided, with just seven votes separating Republican incumbent Deirdre Dillon and Democratic challenger Angelo LaManna Jr.
The latest publicly reported unofficial results, updated November 5, show LaManna leading with 3,275 votes to Dillon’s 3,268. Outstanding ballots could still change the outcome of one of the closest municipal elections in New Jersey this year.
What began as a narrow contest on Election Night has become a closely watched race in Bergen County, where the final outcome could determine whether Republicans retain the mayor’s office or Democrats take control.
A Race That Could Go Either Way
The margin has remained remarkably small throughout the counting process.
Initial results showed LaManna ahead by only two votes. As additional ballots were counted, his advantage increased to four and then seven votes.
The November 5 count showed 39 provisional ballots still awaiting review, according to the New Jersey Globe. Those ballots could prove decisive.
Provisional ballots are issued when a voter’s eligibility cannot immediately be confirmed at the polling location. Election officials must review them before determining whether the votes can be counted.
With such a small margin, even a handful of additional votes could change the result.
The election remains unofficial, and neither candidate has been declared the winner.
Former Police Officer Challenges Longtime Mayor
LaManna, a retired Ramsey police officer, is seeking elected office for the first time.
He spent approximately 28 years with the Ramsey Police Department and has also worked in emergency management. His campaign has emphasized his experience in public service and his familiarity with the community.
Dillon, meanwhile, has been a familiar figure in Ramsey government for nearly two decades.
She first joined the Borough Council in 2007 and became mayor in 2015. She is seeking another four-year term.
The campaign included debate over local development, an issue that has drawn attention from residents concerned about the borough’s future.
Speaking to ABC7 New York, LaManna acknowledged that he had expected a competitive race but had not anticipated such a narrow result.
Dillon has also said she is awaiting the final vote count.
Democrats Make Gains on Borough Council
While the mayoral contest remains unresolved, Democrats have made substantial gains in Ramsey’s Borough Council election.
Democratic candidates Jennifer Crandall and Robert Barry led the race for two council seats, ahead of Republican Council President Judith Cusick and Republican candidate Jacob Englishman.
Their victories would break the Republicans’ existing hold on all six Borough Council seats.
The shift is particularly notable in Ramsey, a politically competitive Bergen County community where recent statewide elections have produced extremely close results.
Donald Trump narrowly carried Ramsey in the 2024 presidential election, while Democrat Mikie Sherrill won the borough by a similarly small margin in the 2025 gubernatorial election.
The mayoral contest now offers another example of how evenly divided local voters have become.
Every Vote Matters in Ramsey
The race has attracted attention beyond Bergen County because of the unusually small margin.
In a borough of approximately 16,000 residents, the next mayor could ultimately be determined by just a handful of ballots.
The close result also illustrates the importance of local elections, where relatively small shifts in turnout can decide who oversees municipal budgets, development decisions, public services, and community priorities.
Residents interviewed by ABC7 described the election as a reflection of the different political views within their community.
For the candidates, however, the immediate concern is the completion of the count.
Bergen County election results remain unofficial until the certification process is completed. Official results are expected in early December.
Until then, Ramsey residents will have to wait to learn whether Dillon will continue as mayor or LaManna will take office.
With only seven votes separating the candidates in the latest reported count, the race remains very much open.
Sources: ABC7 New York, New Jersey Globe, NorthJersey.com, Bergen County Clerk, Patch.
By NJ RADAR Team