Shakeup in Bergen County: Jack DeLorenzo Steps Down as GOP Chair; Vincent Durante Eyes the Gavel
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, The political landscape in Bergen County is shifting. After a disasterous and turbulent two-year tenure marked by internal challenges, epic failure at the ballot box and a lack of recruitment, Jack DeLorenzo has announced he will not seek re-election as the Chairman of the Bergen County Republican Organization (BCRO) this June.
With the seat set to open, former Upper Saddle River Councilman Vincent Durante has emerged as the frontrunner to lead the party as it looks to reclaim its former influence in New Jersey’s most populous county.
The DeLorenzo Departure: A Party in Flux
Jack DeLorenzo, the former Mayor of Hasbrouck Heights, took the reins from Jack Zisa two years ago. However, his departure comes amidst a significant organizational vacuum. Reports indicate that local Republicans in his own hometown filed zero candidates for county committee seats in the upcoming June primary.
Even more concerning for the party’s infrastructure: over 500 county committee seats currently remain unfilled. This vacancy crisis means that a large portion of the local GOP base may be disenfranchised during the upcoming leadership vote, as write-in or appointed members often face hurdles in the selection process.
The Rise of Vincent Durante
Vincent Durante is no stranger to high-stakes party politics. Last year, Durante successfully ousted a four-term incumbent to become the Republican State Committeeman from Bergen County.
The Durante Slate:
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Chairman Candidate: Vincent Durante (Former Upper Saddle River Councilman)
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Vice Chairman Candidate: Thomas Toscano, Jr. (District 37 GOP Chairman)
The Bergen GOP’s Long Road Back
Bergen County was once a Republican stronghold. As recently as 2013, the GOP held the County Executive seat, the Sheriff’s office, and multiple Freeholder positions. However, the party has struggled to regain that momentum over the last decade.
While Donald Trump showed local strength by coming within 3 percentage points of winning the county, the GOP has found it difficult to translate that into local or gubernatorial success. In the most recent election cycle, Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill carried Bergen County by a commanding 11-point margin (over 37,000 votes).
The “Why It Matters” Breakdown
| Challenge | Impact |
| 500+ Empty Seats | Weakens the party’s “boots on the ground” and complicates leadership votes. |
| Hometown Vacancies | Signals a lack of engagement in traditionally strong Republican pockets. |
| Leadership Change | Offers a potential “reset” for a party that hasn’t won countywide since 2013. |
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Tags: Bergen County NJ Politics GOP Elections 2026 New Jersey Political Strategy
unfortunately all the Liberal Democrats moved here from NYC and ruined it
When the moon hits the sky like a big pizza pie…
How much can you do with LINGUINE?
Bergen County is shot beyond repair. Thanks in some part to those insular, officious residents of places like Ridgewood, Glen Rock and other left wing-infested hamlets adorned with “Hate Has No Home Here” lawn signs, too wealthy to be materially affected by the damage that Democrats have inflicted on this County’s taxpayers. The simple post on this thread citing the influx of New Yorkers is also absolutely on target. It’s the M.O. of leftists; Support and promote people and policies that cause the ruination of their communities… Then pack up and leave those communities in disgust once the policies inflict enough harm on them, only to repeat the same perverted support for people and policies that cause the ruination of their newly adopted homes. Rinse and repeat. Finally, Republican party leaders fell asleep at the wheel 20 years ago, as they became drunk with success, and ran the Bergen chapter into a ditch. Hello Florida… I only hope my idiot left wing neighbors don’t follow.
Sad. We’re right behind you. See ya at the beach, $11,000 richer, not having to pay NJ income taxes.