Democrats could pick up a fourth Assembly seat

New Jersey Democrats are waiting to see if their Assembly majority will grow to four seats. Democrat Andrew Zwicker had a narrow lead Wednesday over Republican incumbent Donna Simon in central New Jersey’s 16th District.

It’s a district that includes parts of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset counties. Some of the towns within the district: Branchburg,Delaware, Flemington, Hillsborough, Manville, Millstone (Somerset),Montgomery, Princeton, Raritan (Hunterdon), Readington, Rocky Hill, Somerville,South Brunswick, Stockton.

Democrats were already assured of three other pickups in Tuesday’s election.

The new Democratic majority will be the party’s biggest in the Assembly since 1979 when it controlled 53 seats. Democrats are poised to control 51 or 52 seats in the next session, which will begin in 2016. Republicans would control 29 or 28 seats.

Senate President Steve Sweeney said Wednesday the victory sends a message to Republicans that it’s time to stop helping Gov. Chris Christie advance his conservative credentials as he runs for president.

Election results for all 80 Assembly seats