2024 Winner: Morris & Speed for Bound Brook Borough Council

Councilman-Elect Mark Speed and Councilman Dave Morris

Race highlights:

✅Expanded the Republican majority on the Bound Brook Borough Council from 3-3 to 4-2

✅First victory for Bound Brook Republicans in a presidential cycle since 2004

✅Only Republican seat flip in Somerset County in 2024

✅Overcame a Democrat registration advantage of almost 2:1

Councilman Dave Morris and Councilman-Elect Mark Speed defied history and overcame all odds to win the 2024 Bound Brook Council race. Almost 2:1 Democrat and 53% Hispanic, Bound Brook had not elected a Republican to the Council in a presidential year since 2004.

Incumbent Councilman Dave Morris and Planning Board Member Mark Speed's 2024 campaign centered on stopping overdevelopment, which is rapidly changing the character of Bound Brook and overcrowding the town, a message that Bound Brook Republicans have had success with in both primaries and generals in recent years. Linda Brnicevic's victory in the blue wave of 2022 was the first time since 2010 that a Republican won a Council seat in a federal election cycle, and inspired hope that victory was in the cards in 2024. In presidential turnout with the majority at stake, we would have to turn the anti-overdevelopment message up to 11.

A longtime Democrat Councilman who lost reelection in 2023 sought a comeback in 2024 with a newcomer running mate. We focused on the Democrat with the name ID and voting record, and sucessfully had the Democrats on defense the entire campaign (even though Dave was the only incumbent in the race), insisting that giving huge tax breaks to developers at the expense of the school system is good, actually, and proudly owning the issue. They drew more attention to every attack we made by responding to each and every one.

Dave and Mark closed strong with a Mischief Night-themed opposition research piece, followed by a late endorsement from popular incumbent Democrat Councilman Vinnie Petti, who has been their ally in the anti-overdevelopment cause on the Council.

It paid off. Dave and Mark earned 51.8% and 50.5% respectively, outrunning the top of the ticket by 8.4% and the next closest Republican on the ballot by 5.4%. They became the first Republicans to be elected to the Bound Brook Borough Council in a presidential year since 2004. Mark was the only seat flipped Republican in Somerset County in 2024. The better-known Democrat came in 4th place (for the second year in a row). Bound Brook Republicans achieved the unthinkable and not only saved, but expanded their majority from 3-3 to 4-2.

Congratulations to two sharp and honest guys who are fighting the good fight to save Somerset County's oldest community.

Welcome to the renaissance of the Bound Brook GOP. Follow them on Facebook here.