Essex County Board of County Commissioners, At-Large

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:33 PM ET

9 candidates · General election, November 3, 2026

What this office does

Your county's legislative and governing board. Sets the county budget and property-tax rate, makes zoning and growth decisions, and funds roads, parks, emergency services and other county services.

Candidates

Demetrius Eley

Republican
Not enough public record yet to place on the left–right scale.

Daniela Ferreira Almeida

Republican
Not enough public record yet to place on the left–right scale.

Douglas Freeman

Republican
Not enough public record yet to place on the left–right scale.

Sahwa DeFrank

Republican
Not enough public record yet to place on the left–right scale.

Christine McGrath

Democrat · Verona councilwoman
Not enough public record yet to place on the left–right scale.

Abdur R. Yasin

Democrat · Fire captain and college lecturer
Not enough public record yet to place on the left–right scale.

Deborah Engel

Democrat · Former small business owner
Strongly left · AI estimate from their own website (73% confidence)

Wayne RichardsonIncumbent

Democrat · Laborers union official; president, Laborers Local 55
Not enough public record yet to place on the left–right scale.

Wynnie-Fred Victor Hinds

Independent
Not enough public record yet to place on the left–right scale.

Copied from the county's scanned sample ballot; check names against your own sample ballot.

Filled dots are published academic scores; hollow dots are AI estimates from the candidate's own public record. How placements work.

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Quick answers

Who is running for Essex County Board of County Commissioners, At-Large in 2026?
Demetrius Eley (Republican), Daniela Ferreira Almeida (Republican), Douglas Freeman (Republican), Sahwa DeFrank (Republican), Christine McGrath (Democrat), Abdur R. Yasin (Democrat), Deborah Engel (Democrat), Wayne Richardson (Democrat) and Wynnie-Fred Victor Hinds (Independent).
Who is the incumbent?
Wayne Richardson currently holds this office.
What does this office do?
Your county's legislative and governing board. Sets the county budget and property-tax rate, makes zoning and growth decisions, and funds roads, parks, emergency services and other county services.
Who should I vote for in the Essex County Board of County Commissioners, At-Large race?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Compare each candidate's record, funding, outside spending and endorsements on this page, then decide based on the issues that matter most to you. Enter your address at spectrumvote.com to see this race next to everything else on your ballot.
When is the election?
The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Essex County ballot.

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