Brooks, Miles, and Mojica win Rahway Democratic council primary
Independent challenger Andrew Garcia Phillips fell short in a four-way race for three at-large seats. Mayor Giacobbe and Republican Casey Granieri each ran uncontested in their respective primaries, setting up a November matchup. Independent Hope Moran also secured a spot on the November mayoral ballot.
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Chris Howell | June 3, 2026 ***Updated: June 4, 2026***
Rahway’s three incumbent Democratic council candidates held off a challenge from an independent candidate in Tuesday’s municipal primary, securing their place on the November general election ballot.
With all 24 precincts reporting, Jeffrey Brooks led the field with 2,292 votes (29.5%), followed by Joanna Miles with 2,256 votes (29.1%) and Jeremy Mojica with 1,843 votes (23.8%). Andrew Garcia Phillips, who ran under the slogan “Democrats for Rahway,” received 1,317 votes (17.0%).
The three incumbents ran as a coordinated slate alongside Mayor Raymond Giacobbe, presenting a unified front against Garcia Phillips’ independent challenge. Miles acknowledged the support in a Facebook post after the results came in.
“It is with deep gratitude, humility, and appreciation of your support that we are able to continue to serve the community of Rahway,” she wrote.
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Garcia Phillips, a former journalist and civic leader, struck a measured tone in his concession.
“Thank you, Rahway. Not the result I wanted. But I will continue to use my voice to stand up for my neighbors. I hope you will join me,” he wrote on Facebook, posting alongside a photo taken in front of the city’s “Greetings from Rahway” mural.
“It was a hard-fought campaign, and I commend all of the candidates who put themselves forward and engaged in the democratic process,” said Mayor Giacobbe in a statement to The Central Jerseyan.
“Now that the primary is behind us, it’s time to come together as one city. While elections may highlight our differences, our shared goal remains the same: building the best possible future for our community. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with our council, residents, and stakeholders to keep moving our city forward. Together, we are strongest when we focus on what unites us rather than what divides us,” he said.
Tuesday’s primary was the second consecutive cycle in which a member of the Garcia Phillips family challenged the Regular Democratic Organization’s council slate. In 2022, Amy Garcia Phillips, Andrew’s wife, ran for the same three at-large seats alongside two other independent candidates, Roger Moore and Lisa Ferraro.
Four years later, Andrew Garcia Phillips consolidated much of that opposition into a single candidacy, receiving more than double what any individual challenger had in recent elections. His 17% share, however, fell just short of the challengers’ combined 20.4% in 2022, suggesting the opposition base has solidified but not yet grown substantially.
The incumbent ticket ran without opposition in 2018, making 2022 the first cycle in which organized resistance to the slate emerged. Tuesday’s result marks the second consecutive primary in which that resistance held together.
Brooks, Miles, and Mojica will face Republican Alan Levy in November. Levy ran uncontested in Tuesday’s Republican primary, receiving 347 votes.
Giacobbe ran uncontested on the Democratic ballot, receiving 3,093 votes (96.8%). Republican challenger Casey Granieri ran uncontested on the Republican side with 363 votes (98.1%). The two will meet in November.
Independent candidate Hope Moran also secured a spot on the November mayoral ballot.
In the 7th Congressional District, which covers Rahway, Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic primary, per an Associated Press projection. Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot endorsed by four of the district’s six county Democratic organizations, defeated physician Tina Shah, business owner Brian Varela, and former Small Business Administration official Michael Roth. Bennett will face Republican incumbent Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. in November in one of the most closely watched House districts in the country.
Results are unofficial until certified by Union County election officials. Mail ballots counted in the days following the primary may affect final totals.
Editor’s note: The Central Jerseyan is free to read and supported by advertising. If you value this kind of local reporting and want to help sustain it, you can become a citizen supporter on Patreon. Your contribution helps fund continued coverage of local government, schools, and community issues.
***This article was updated to include Mayor Giacobbe’s statement.***