New Jersey Election 2013: Democrats Hold on in District 19

Two Woodbridge residents, including a former interim mayor in the township, and his Democratic ally all won re-election to their legislative seats in the 19th District Tuesday night.

Joseph Vitale defeated Republican challenger Robert Luban 23,974 to 14,405 to hold on to his seat in the state Senate, according to unofficial vote totals from the Middlesex County Clerk’s Office.

Vitale first joined the Senate in 1998 and was the Deputy Majority Leader from 2004-09.

Woodbridge resident Craig Coughlin returns to the General Assembly, where he’s served since 2010. He collected 22,281 votes. Running mate John Wisniewski was re-elected with 24,269 votes, the most of any candidate in the 19th District race.

Republican challenger Stephanie Ziemba collected 13,377 votes, followed by running mate Arif Khan with 12,111 votes.

The 19th District is comprised of Carteret, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, South Amboy and Woodbridge.