Editing Clifton, New Jersey (section)

==Government==

===Local government===
The city of Clifton is governed under the [[1923 Municipal Manager Law]]. The city is one of seven municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601184216/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf |date=June 1, 2023 }}, [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is the City Council, which is comprised of seven council members, with all positions elected [[at-large]] on a [[non-partisan democracy|non-partisan]] basis to concurrent four-terms of office as part of the November general election. The mayor is chosen by the City Council, with the position traditionally given to the top vote getter in the previous election.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], April 2006, p. 165.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=9 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604040836/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=9 |date=June 4, 2023 }}, p. 9. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> Clifton's municipal elections had been held in May, as required for municipalities conducting non-partisan elections. Following the passage of a state law in 2010 allowing non-partisan elections to be shifted to November, Clifton voters were overwhelmingly in favor of the move in a non-binding referendum held in November 2013. On December 13, 2013, the Clifton City Council voted 6–0, with one abstention, to make the move to November local elections binding, which had the effect of extending the terms of all sitting council members by six months, from June 30 to December 31. Officials cited increased voter participation and reduced costs as the justifications behind supporting the shift.<ref>Gicas, Tony. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/235689661_Clifton_elections_officially_changed_to_November.html "Clifton elections officially changed to November"], ''Clifton Journal'', December 13, 2013. Accessed February 10, 2014. "After months of passionate debate and an overwhelming vote of confidence from City voters on a non-binding referendum last month, the municipal council officially moved its election date from May to November.... After months of passionate debate and an overwhelming vote of confidence from City voters on a non-binding referendum last month, the municipal council officially moved its election date from May to November."</ref>

As of 2023, Clifton's mayor is Raymond Grabowski, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. He replaced James Anzaldi, who had been one of the members of the City Council since 1978, and was first selected to be mayor in 1990, succeeding two-term mayor Gloria Kolodziej. Anzaldi was the first mayor in Clifton's history to be elected to six terms.<ref>Greenberg, Adam. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/051110_Anzaldi_wins_historic_sixth_term_as_mayor_in_Clifton.html "Anzaldi wins historic sixth term as mayor in Clifton"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818232521/http://www.northjersey.com/news/051110_Anzaldi_wins_historic_sixth_term_as_mayor_in_Clifton.html |date=August 18, 2013 }}, ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', May 11, 2010. Accessed January 13, 2013. "James Anzaldi, the city's longest-serving mayor, finished strong in Tuesday's election, taking both a ninth City Council term and an unprecedented sixth term as mayor, as the election's top vote-getter."</ref> The other current members of the City Council are Chris D'Amato, William "Bill" Gibson, Antonio Latona, Joseph Kolodziej, Rosemary Pino, Mary Sadrakula, all of whom are serving concurrent terms of office that end on December 31, 2026.<ref name=Council>[https://www.cliftonnj.org/101/Council City Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224214245/https://www.cliftonnj.org/101/Council |date=December 24, 2019 }}, City of Clifton. Accessed April 10, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.cliftonnj.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/150 2022 Municipal Data Sheet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121035925/https://www.cliftonnj.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/150 |date=November 21, 2022 }}, City of Clifton. Accessed November 20, 2022.</ref><ref name=PassaicDirectory>[https://www.passaiccountynj.org/home/showpublisheddocument/1938/637667926512370000#page=67 ''Passaic County 2021 Directory''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309161935/https://www.passaiccountynj.org/home/showpublisheddocument/1938/637667926512370000#page=67 |date=March 9, 2022 }}, [[Passaic County, New Jersey]], April 2021. Accessed April 10, 2022.</ref><ref name=Passaic2018>[http://www.passaiccountynj.org/Election%20Results/2018/Official%20Results%20-%202018%20General%20Election%20-Summary.pdf November 6, 2018 Summary Report Passaic County Official Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221055903/http://www.passaiccountynj.org/Election%20Results/2018/Official%20Results%20-%202018%20General%20Election%20-Summary.pdf |date=December 21, 2019 }}, [[Passaic County, New Jersey]], updated November 12, 2015. Accessed September 15, 2019.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Clifton City Council sticks with tradition in naming its first new mayor in 32 years |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/clifton/2023/01/04/clifton-nj-ray-grabowski-mayor-top-vote-getter/69775910007/ |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=North Jersey Media Group |language=en-US |archive-date=January 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104022822/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/clifton/2023/01/04/clifton-nj-ray-grabowski-mayor-top-vote-getter/69775910007/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/clifton/2024/02/06/clifton-nj-chris-damato-fill-lauren-murphys-council-seat/72491327007//2024/02/06/clifton-nj-chris-damato-fill-lauren-murphys-council-seat/72491327007/ | title=Clifton appoints Chris d'Amato to fill Lauren Murphy's council seat }}</ref>

Grabowski's election and Council nomination as mayor ended up being considered the most contentious local political event since 1966, when the then-top vote getter, Bill Bate, the only Democrat on the Council at that time, ended up getting passed over in favor of Joseph Vanecek, as, this time around, Grabowski would only get four of the seven possible votes on the Council, as opposed to Anzaldi, who won most, if not all, of those votes unanimously, in each of his terms, with the other three votes going to newcomer Antonio Latona (Grabowski/Kolodziej/Murphy/Sadrakula voting for Grabowski; Gibson/Latona/Pino, surprisingly, voting for Latona, all despite Gibson reportedly privately considering taking enough of those votes away from Grabowski to become mayor himself as of January 2023, even though Grabowski won at the polls in November 2022 by the final margin of roughly 9,400–8,200).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-03 |title=Surprising Twist to Clifton's Mayoral Selection as Some Leave Tradition Behind {{!}} The Clifton Times |url=https://thecliftontimes.com/g/clifton-nj/n/137753/surprising-twist-cliftons-mayoral-selection-some-leave-tradition-behind |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=thecliftontimes.com |language=en |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105202450/https://thecliftontimes.com/g/clifton-nj/n/137753/surprising-twist-cliftons-mayoral-selection-some-leave-tradition-behind |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Vacancies===
If at any time a seat becomes vacant on the council, it is filled by special election unless the vacancy occurs during a council election year. If the vacancy comes before a council election year, the council must decide whether or not to appoint someone to serve as an interim councilperson within thirty days of the creation of the vacancy; if they choose to appoint someone, that person serves until the special election can be held and is eligible to run for the remainder of the term if he/she so desires.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/clifton/2024/02/06/clifton-nj-chris-damato-fill-lauren-murphys-council-seat/72491327007/ | title=Clifton appoints Chris d'Amato to fill Lauren Murphy's council seat }}</ref> The appointee will usually be the first runner up in the previous 
council election. 

The city has done this five times since 1990:

*In 1992, Councilman George Bayeux died in office. His seat was left vacant and in the special election held in November 1992, Richard Stockinger was elected to take his place.<ref name="highbeam.com">Tedeschi, Bruno. [https://archive.today/20140821172159/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22526780.html "Richard Stockinger, Longtime Clifton Gop Stalwart"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', March 25, 1996. Accessed August 21, 2014. "Mr. Stockinger won his City Council seat in a special election in November 1992 after the death of Councilman George Bayeaux."</ref>
*In March of 1996, a vacancy was created when Stockinger, who had been elected to a full term when the council stood for election in 1994, died from lung cancer. His seat remained vacant, and the special election to fill his seat was held in November 1996 and won by Edward Welsh.<ref name="Municipal Elections At A Glance">McGrath, Mary. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160409182053/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22522715.html "Municipal Elections At A Glance"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', November 6, 1996. Accessed August 21, 2014. "Democrat Edward Welsh, vice chairman of the Planning Board, won a landslide victory Tuesday in the race for the City Council seat left vacant after the death of Richard Stockinger in March."</ref>
*After the newly elected council had been sworn in in 2006, Antonio Latona was forced to vacate his seat as it was determined that, as a city employee (at the time, Latona was a working member of the city fire department), serving on the council would be a conflict of interest. Matt Ward, who had finished eighth in the election, was appointed to fill the vacancy in November of that year.<ref name="Clifton Council fills vacant seat">Kindergan, Ashley. [https://archive.today/20140821172200/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-131172371.html "Clifton Council fills vacant seat"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', November 14, 2006. Accessed August 21, 2014. "The City Council tapped Matthew Ward, the runner-up in May's municipal elections, to fill a vacant seat on Monday night."</ref> The city held a special election in November 2007 to fill the remainder of the term; Ward defeated three other candidates to win.<ref name="Keller, Karen 2007">Keller, Karen. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160315071211/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-145814980.html "Clifton -- Election 2007: Municipal Results"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', November 7, 2007. Accessed August 21, 2014. "Incumbent Matthew Ward won a special election Tuesday to complete an unexpired term on the City Council, beating three challengers."</ref>
*In February 2015, just after he was sworn into office for his second term, Councilman Matt Grabowski died from cancer. The council appointed Joseph Cupoli, the highest vote-getter among the previous losing candidates, to fill the seat until the November election. Raymond Grabowski, the councilman's brother, won the special election to serve out the remainder of the term.<ref>Gicas, Tony. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/joe-cupoli-appointedto-council-1.1296787 "Joe Cupoli appointed to Clifton Council"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707081907/http://www.northjersey.com/news/joe-cupoli-appointedto-council-1.1296787 |date=July 7, 2015 }}, ''Clifton Journal'', March 27, 2015. Accessed August 13, 2015. "The City's municipal government unanimously voted to return a former Council member to the dais and fill the empty seat left after last month's death of Councilman Matt Grabowski. On Saturday, during a public budget meeting, officials voted 6-0 to appoint former Councilman Joe Cupoli, who finished eighth in last November's general election, to the Council. In the event of a Clifton Council member's death, the empty seat is traditionally filled by the eighth-place finisher of the previous election.</ref><ref name=Passaic2015>[http://www.passaiccountynj.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/409 November 3, 2015 Summary Report Passaic County Official Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721192354/http://www.passaiccountynj.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/409 |date=2016-07-21 }}, [[Passaic County, New Jersey]], updated November 12, 2015. Accessed July 28, 2016.</ref><ref>Green, Jeff. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/new-clifton-council-member-carries-on-for-his-late-brother-1.1455242 "New Clifton council member carries on for his late brother"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416140804/http://www.northjersey.com/news/new-clifton-council-member-carries-on-for-his-late-brother-1.1455242 |date=April 16, 2016 }}, ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', November 13, 2015. Accessed March 29, 2016. "Newly elected Ray Grabowski was sworn into office after a decisive victory in last week's municipal election, carrying on in that seat in the wake of his brother Matt's death early this year. Grabowski takes over for Joe Cupoli, who was appointed to the seat in March following the former councilman's death."</ref>
*On January 13, 2024, Councilwoman Lauren Murphy died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The council chose Chris D’Amato, who finished eighth in the previous council election, to fill the vacancy on February 3; D'Amato won the special election to fill the remainder of the term in November 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fagan |first1=Matt |title=Clifton appoints Chris D'Amato to fill Lauren Murphy's council seat |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/clifton/2024/02/06/clifton-nj-chris-damato-fill-lauren-murphys-council-seat/72491327007/ |website=North Jersey Media Group |date=February 6, 2024}}</ref>

===Federal, state and county representation===
Clifton is located in the 9th Congressional District,<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219202014/https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf |date=February 19, 2020 }}, [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 27th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2023>[https://pub.njleg.gov/publications/pdf/2023-NJ-Leg-District-Map.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930223406/https://pub.njleg.gov/publications/pdf/2023-NJ-Leg-District-Map.pdf |date=September 30, 2023 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed September 1, 2023.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 09}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 27}}

As of the state legislative elections in November 2023, Clifton will be part of the [[New Jersey's 27th legislative district|27th Legislative District]], with both Clifton and Montclair leaving the 34th, and joining [[Livingston, New Jersey|Livingston]], [[Millburn, New Jersey|Millburn]], [[Roseland, New Jersey|Roseland]], and [[West Orange, New Jersey|West Orange]] in Essex County, in that Legislative District;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/New_Jersey_Legislative_Districts_Map_%282023%29.svg/1081px-New_Jersey_Legislative_Districts_Map_%282023%29.svg.png |title=District Map |access-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-date=October 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001135641/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/New_Jersey_Legislative_Districts_Map_%282023%29.svg/1081px-New_Jersey_Legislative_Districts_Map_%282023%29.svg.png |url-status=live }}</ref> that reapportionment decision represented compromise between state legislators in both parties - the initial Democratic plan would have kept the existing 34th District entirely intact, while the initial Republican plan would have added it to the [[New Jersey's 40th legislative district|40th Legislative District]], placing it with some of the longtime Republican-leaning municipalities in that district.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wildstein |first=David |date=2022-02-07 |title=Here are the two first submissions for legislative redistricting |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/redistricing/here-are-the-two-first-submissions-for-legislative-redistricting/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=New Jersey Globe |language=en-US |archive-date=April 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403205237/https://newjerseyglobe.com/redistricing/here-are-the-two-first-submissions-for-legislative-redistricting/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{NJ Passaic County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
As of January 2021, there were a total of 53,555 registered voters in Clifton, of which 22,940 (42.8% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registered [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 9,562 (18% vs. 18.7%) were registered [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]], and 20,150 (37.5% vs. 50.3%) were registered [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 19 voters registered to other parties.<ref name=VoterRegistration>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-passaic-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Passaic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811011750/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-passaic-co-summary-report.pdf |date=August 11, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref> Among the city's 2020 Census population, 52.9% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 67.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212202223/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref>

In the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]], Democrat [[Joe Biden]] received 59% of the vote (23,930 cast), ahead of the then-President, Republican Donald Trump, with 39.7% of the vote (16,128 cast), and all other candidates with 1.3% of the vote (565 cast), among the 40,623 ballots cast by the city's 57,785 registered voters (70.3%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Passaic County presidential election results, 2020 |url=https://www.passaiccountynj.org/home/showpublisheddocument/4584/637716218074530000 |access-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315162635/https://www.passaiccountynj.org/home/showpublisheddocument/4584/637716218074530000 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]], Democrat [[Hillary Clinton]] received 60% of the vote (20,425 votes cast), ahead of Republican [[Donald Trump]] with 37% (12,620 votes cast), and all other candidates with their combined 3% (973 votes).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Presidential Election Results, Passaic County, NJ |url=https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-passaic.pdf |access-date=February 27, 2023 |archive-date=February 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227004811/https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-passaic.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], the then-President, Democrat [[Barack Obama]], received 62.6% of the vote (18,761 cast), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 36.3% (10,885 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (305 votes), among the 30,261 ballots cast by the city's 47,933 registered voters (310 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for turnout of 63.1%.<ref name="2012Elections">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-passaic.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Passaic County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="2012VoterReg">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-passaic.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Passaic County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-date=December 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226084652/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-passaic.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Democrat Barack Obama received 18,260 votes (56.5% vs. 58.8% countywide), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 12,848 votes (39.8% vs. 37.7%) and other candidates with 334 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 32,317 ballots cast by the city's 44,903 registered voters, for turnout of 72.0% (vs. 70.4% in Passaic County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-passaic.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Passaic County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811015317/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-passaic.pdf |date=August 11, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Democrat [[John Kerry]] received 15,597 votes (52.0% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of the then-President, Republican [[George W. Bush]], with 13,120 votes (43.8% vs. 42.7%), and other candidates with 228 votes (4.2% vs. 0.7%), among the 29,971 ballots cast by the city's 41,220 registered voters, for turnout of 72.7% (vs. 69.3% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_passaic_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Passaic County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811014515/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_passaic_co_2004.pdf |date=August 11, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential elections results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2024 United States presidential election in New Jersey|2024]]<ref name="2024Elections">{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-passaic.pdf|title=Presidential November 5, 2024 General Election Results Passaic County|access-date=January 11, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.1%''' ''17,776''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.2% ''17,415''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |3.7% ''1,630''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2020|2020]]<ref name="2020Elections">{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-passaic.pdf|title=Presidential November 3, 2020 General Election Results Passaic County|access-date=January 11, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.7%' ''16,128''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.0%''' ''23,930''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.3% ''565''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016|2016]]<ref name="2016Elections">{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-passaic.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results – November 8, 2016 – Passaic County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.0% ''12,620''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''60.0%''' ''20,425''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |3.0% ''973''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012]]<ref name="2012Election">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-passaic.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Passaic County |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=January 11, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.3% ''10,885''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''62.6%''' ''18,671''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.0% ''305''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008]]<ref name="state.nj.us">[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-passaic.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Passaic County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 11, 2025.</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.8% ''12,848''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.5%''' ''18,260''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.0% ''134''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004]]'''<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_passaic_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Passaic County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 11, 2025.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.8% ''13,120''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''52.0%''' ''15,597''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |4.2% ''228''
|}

In the 2021 gubernatorial election, the incumbent governor, Democrat Phil Murphy, received 10,240 votes cast (54%), ahead of Republican [[Jack Ciattarelli]] with 8,485 votes cast (45%), and all other candidates with 200 combined votes (1%), among the 18,925 ballots cast by the city's 53,555 registered voters (35.3%);<ref>{{Cite web |title=Passaic County gubernatorial results, 2021 |url=https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2021/2021-general-election-results-governor-passaic.pdf |access-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315162634/https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2021/2021-general-election-results-governor-passaic.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> despite Murphy winning by noticeably closer margins both locally and statewide compared to 2017, there were many more in-person votes cast once again, in contrast with 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Majority of voters plan on voting in-person on Election Day" |date=September 22, 2021 |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/polling/majority-of-voters-plan-on-voting-in-person-on-election-day/ |access-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315162635/https://newjerseyglobe.com/polling/majority-of-voters-plan-on-voting-in-person-on-election-day/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2017 New Jersey gubernatorial election|2017 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Phil Murphy]] received 9,465 votes cast (61.3%), ahead of Republican [[Kim Guadagno]] with 5,655 votes cast (36.7%), and all other candidates with 315 combined votes (2%), among the 15,435 ballots cast by the city's 52,065 registered voters (30%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2017 Gubernatorial Election Results, Passaic County, NJ |url=https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2017/2017-general-election-results-governor-passaic.pdf |access-date=February 27, 2023 |archive-date=February 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227004810/https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2017/2017-general-election-results-governor-passaic.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 56.0% of the vote (9,300 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 42.8% (7,100 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (200 votes), among the 16,600 ballots cast by the city's 49,230 registered voters (361 ballots were spoiled), for turnout of 34.5%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-passaic.pdf |title=Governor - Passaic County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924134022/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-passaic.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-passaic.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Passaic County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133317/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-passaic.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] received 9,080 ballots cast (49.1% vs. 50.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 8,220 votes (44.5% vs. 43.2%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 787 votes (4.3% vs. 3.8%), and other candidates with 243 votes (1.3% vs. 0.9%), among the 18,330 ballots cast by the city's 43,800 registered voters, yielding 42.2% turnout (vs. 42.7% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-passaic.pdf 2009 Governor: Passaic County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822213732/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-passaic.pdf |date=August 22, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref> In the [[2005 New Jersey gubernatorial election|2005 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] received 9,925 votes cast (56.5%), ahead of Republican [[Douglas Forrester|Doug Forrester]] with 7,038 votes cast (40%), and all other candidates with 625 votes cast (3.5%), among the 17,588 ballots cast by the city's 39,878 registered voters (46%). In the [[2001 New Jersey gubernatorial election|2001 gubernatorial election]], [[Jim McGreevey]], the unsuccessful Democratic nominee in [[1997 New Jersey gubernatorial election|1997]], received 10,015 votes cast (55.5%), ahead of Republican [[Bret Schundler]] with 7,850 votes cast (43.5%), and all other candidates with 175 combined votes (1.5%), among the 18,040 total votes cast locally in said election.