With final votes tallied, the two Democratic candidates are confirmed the winners of the November general election for two seats on the Cranbury Township Committee.
Democratic candidate Robert Christopher was the highest vote getter earning 1,437 votes and Democratic incumbent Eman El-Badawi, who currently serves as Cranbury Township’s mayor, secured 1,387 votes.
Republican candidate Joe Buonavolonta received 1,177 votes.
There were 18 write-in votes cast. A total of 4,019 votes had been cast in the race.
The official vote counts by the Middlesex County Clerk’s Office on Nov. 25 included early voting, mail-in ballots, Election Day voting and provisional ballots.
Christopher will serve his first three-year term on the Township Committee when he is sworn-in next year.
“I’m deeply honored that the residents of Cranbury have elected me to the Township Committee, and I’m excited to get started in the new year,” he said.
“While there’s a lot to learn in this new role, I believe my experiences on both the Cranbury and Princeton boards of education have prepared me well. I look forward to connecting with the other Committee members in the near future.”
Christopher shared that the victory is a bit bittersweet, as he will truly miss working alongside his colleagues on the board of education.
“However, I plan to stay in touch as part of my new position and will work to ensure that the township and the schools continue to maintain a healthy, collaborative relationship moving forward. I’d also like to congratulate Eman El-Badawi on her re-election and thank Joe Buonavolonta for running a strong campaign,” he said.
“The community always benefits when there are competitive races with high quality candidates. Lastly, a heartfelt thanks to my wife, Heather, and my kids, Hannah, Kayla, and Nathan, for their unwavering support in all my efforts to give back to our community.”
El-Badawi has earned a second three-year term on the Township Committee. She was elected mayor in 2024 and served as deputy mayor in 2023.
“I have worked extremely hard this year as the Mayor of Cranbury, and running as a candidate for the Township Committee in the 2024 elections created another layer of exertion. With the political turmoil and unease revolving around the general elections, I knew IÂ had to make sure I ran an active campaign,” El-Badawi said in a statement to The Cranbury Press.
She added that she is very grateful to have garnered the support of local residents who voted to allow her to serve Cranbury for another term.
“Their support sits in my heart, warms my soul and infuses me with energy to continue to work towards Cranbury’s interests,” El-Badawi said. “I will miss my colleague Michael Ferrante as he retires out of his position on the Township Committee. His friendship and guidance were always appreciated.”Â
Story has been updated to include a statement from Eman El-Badawi.
