CLIFTON, N.J. — Republican congressional candidate Rosie Pino is raising concerns over the continued delay in officially calling New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District primary race, arguing that voters deserve faster election results and greater transparency in the counting process.
Pino, a four-term local elected official and the Republican nominee for Congress in NJ-09, issued a statement criticizing what she described as an unusually prolonged vote-counting process. Nearly a week after polls closed, the race remains one of the few unresolved contests in the state despite counties reporting that all ballots have been tabulated.
As of Tuesday morning, The Associated Press had yet to call the race with only approximately 93% of precincts reporting.
The candidate compared the situation to ongoing election-counting controversies in California and specifically Los Angeles, where several high-profile races have remained undecided days after Election Day.
“Why are ballots still being counted nearly a week later?” Pino asked in a statement. “Voters deserve timely results and confidence that the process is being handled fairly and efficiently.”
Pino argued that lengthy counting periods can undermine public confidence in elections, particularly in competitive races. The 9th Congressional District is expected to be closely watched heading into the general election, with both parties viewing the seat as strategically important.
The Republican nominee said election administration and security would be among her top priorities if elected to Congress.
Among the reforms she is advocating are a nationwide voter identification requirement and tighter restrictions on mail-in ballots received after Election Day. Supporters of such measures argue they strengthen election integrity, while critics contend they could make voting more difficult for some eligible voters.
Pino said she believes election results should be finalized more quickly and that voters should not have to wait days to learn the outcome of major contests. The ongoing delay in calling the NJ-09 primary comes amid a broader national debate over election procedures, vote-counting timelines, and public confidence in electoral systems.
