Assemblyman Parker Space easily won a third term Tuesday night
FRANKLIN -- N.J. Assemblyman Parker Space cruised to re-election Tuesday night, seemingly unaffected by recent controversies involving the Confederate flag and a vulgar insult directed at one of his opponents.
Space, R-24th District, and former state Labor Commissioner Hal Wirths won the two Assembly seats in the Republican-dominated district, besting two Democrats and two Green Party candidates.
Assemblyman Parker Space, center, reacting to his re-election victory in Franklin, Nov. 7, 2017 With all 174 precincts reporting, Space was the top vote-getter, with 33,604, followed by Wirths with 30,604 votes.
Democrats Kate Matteson and Gina Trish had 22,254 votes and 20,029 votes, respectively, and were trailed by Green Party candidates Aaron Hyndman and Ken Collins.
Space joined Wirths and Sen. Steve Oroho, R-24th District, also re-elected Tuesday night, at the Sussex County Republican gathering.
"We ran as a team. We stood strong together and we had a great platform," Space told supporters.
"We had a great message out here for the 24th District, and that's what brought the voters together and made us win," Space said.
He also thanked his wife, Jill Space -- who, along with her husband, represents Sussex County on the New Jersey Republican State Committee.
Matteson and Trish, reached afterward by phone, expressed pride in their campaign.
Matteson said, "We're disappointed with the results, but we think we certainly matched up to the rest of the state, in having a very competitive race for our district."
District 24 includes all of Sussex County, Mount Olive in Morris County and about half of Warren County.
Trish said their advocacy will continue.
"It's just the beginning. We wish that our legislators will do a good job for all of our people, and not just a small percentage of them," Trish said.
Wirths will succeed Assemblywoman Gail Phoebus, R-24th District, who after being dropped from the GOP ticket last winter launched, and then abandoned, a primary challenge to Oroho.
Space, a former Wantage mayor and Sussex County freeholder, will begin his third term in January.
Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook