Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, police detective Corey McNair advance to December runoff

McNair finished nearly 14 percentage points ahead of the two-term incumbent in a six-candidate field. The two will face off again Dec. 8.

Incumbent Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora will face police detective and political newcomer Corey Isiah McNair in a December runoff election after neither candidate secured a majority of the vote in Tuesday’s six-way mayoral race.

McNair led the field with 4,417 votes, or 37.12%, while Gusciora finished second with 2,767 votes, or 23.25%, according to unofficial Mercer County election results. All districts had reported as of Tuesday night.

McNair finished 1,650 votes ahead of Gusciora, a margin of nearly 14 percentage points. The two candidates will face off Dec. 8 in the first mayoral runoff in New Jersey’s capital city since 2018.

Austin Edwards finished third with 1,709 votes (14.36%), followed by Jasi Edwards with 1,480 (12.44%), Rolando Ramos with 1,191 (10.01%), and Edward Forchion with 299 (2.51%). Another 37 votes were cast for write-in candidates.

The capital city, which has about  91,000 residents, holds nonpartisan municipal elections, meaning candidates do not appear on the ballot with political party affiliations. A candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote to win outright. When no candidate receives a majority, the two candidates with the most votes advance to a runoff.

McNair, 38, is seeking elected office for the first time. Born and raised in Trenton, he has spent more than a decade with the city’s police department, serving as a patrol officer and detective. He previously worked in the department’s executive protection unit, providing security for the mayor and other officials, and now serves in its community affairs unit, working with residents and community organizations.

In responses to The Jersey Vindicator’s candidate questionnaire, McNair identified public safety as his top priority, calling for stronger community policing, targeted enforcement against violent crime, youth intervention programs, and greater accountability within city government. He pledged to establish measurable public safety goals and regularly report progress to residents.

McNair also proposed reviewing city contracts and departmental spending, strengthening enforcement against abandoned properties, and expanding opportunities for affordable housing and homeownership. He called for greater transparency at Trenton Water Works, including a public dashboard allowing residents to track infrastructure projects, spending, and deadlines.

Gusciora, 66, is seeking a third term as mayor after first winning the office in 2018. Before becoming mayor, he served 22 years in the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the 15th Legislative District as a Democrat.

In his responses to The Vindicator’s questionnaire, Gusciora pointed to increased state aid, the redevelopment of abandoned properties, and improvements to Trenton Water Works as accomplishments of his administration.

He said his priorities for another term include expanding economic development, improving public safety, increasing investment in youth programs, and continuing work on the city’s water infrastructure.

Gusciora has said his administration secured an increase in annual state aid from $6 million to $69 million and reduced the city’s inventory of abandoned properties. He also cited a $763 million capital improvement plan for Trenton Water Works that includes replacing the utility’s open reservoir, modernizing its treatment plant, and installing smart meters.

Both candidates have proposed greater transparency for major infrastructure projects, including public trackers showing spending, progress, and completion schedules for improvements to Trenton Water Works.

Gusciora won his first mayoral election in a June 2018 runoff against Paul Perez after finishing second in the initial election. He secured a second four-year term in 2022 without a runoff.