Bloomfield 2026 Election: Town Council and School Board Races to Watch
Bloomfield voters will fill all three ward seats on the Town Council and a contested set of Board of Education seats in the November 3, 2026 general election, along with congressional and county offices. The races land at a moment when the town's budget fights are fresh: homeowners just saw a 12% municipal tax increase in the adopted 2026 budget and a school budget built after a $1.5 million state aid cut. Whoever wins these seats will make the next round of decisions on taxes, redevelopment, and school spending. Here is what is on the ballot and why it matters if you live in or are looking at Bloomfield.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, but you do not have to wait. Early in-person voting runs Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1 at the Watsessing Park Community Center at 38 Conger Street, and the deadline to request a mail-in ballot is October 27. Ballots can be dropped in official drop boxes or returned to the County Board of Elections by 8 PM on Election Day. Mark the October 27 mail-in deadline on your calendar, because in a race decided by primary winners in most wards, turnout is the variable that matters most.
The campaign season has picked up two local flashpoints that were not on the radar when this guide first published. The sudden closure of 23 Skiddoo Cafe in Watsessing, one day after the Planning Board approved a subdivision next door, has become a political issue in Ward Three, where residents are rallying to keep the corner commercial and Montclair Local has described the situation as a flashpoint for the town. The new sewer user fee, which replaced the flat sewer charge folded into property taxes, is also animating voters, with a petition to amend it for senior support still circulating. Ward Three incumbent Sarah Cruz faces Stef Bootwala in the November race, and both issues are the kind of neighborhood-level concerns that shape how residents vote. Expect candidates to be asked where they stand on small-business support, the sewer fee, and how development decisions get made.
What is on the ballot
The Town Council race includes one seat in each of Bloomfield's three wards, with three-year terms. The Board of Education contest is a three-seat race, and Bloomfield is one of eight Essex County districts with a contested school board race this year. Federal and county offices are also on the ballot, which tends to drive higher turnout than a typical local-only election.
With no Republicans filing to run, the November ballot in the ward races matches the winners of the June Democratic primary:
- Ward 2: Greg Babula won the primary with 53.67% of the vote, ahead of Jason Martinez at 43.64% and Paul Bonica at 2.69%.
- Ward 3: Incumbent Sarah Cruz won the primary with 60.35% against Stef Bootwala's 39.65%.
- Ward 1: The primary drew seven Democratic candidates, including Stefanie Santiago and the Ward 2 and 3 contenders, and the winner carries the November ballot in that ward.
Check the certified ballot before voting, since candidate lists can shift between primary night and the final printed ballot.
Why this election matters to homeowners
The council race is a direct vote on the direction of the town's finances and development. The 2026 municipal budget carried a 12% municipal tax increase, more than triple the prior year's, driven by health insurance, pensions, public safety, and wastewater costs. The same council will weigh the next batch of large projects, including the 250-unit redevelopment at 71 Locust Avenue, the downtown redevelopment requests for proposals, and questions about where data centers fit in Bloomfield's zoning.
The school board race matters just as much for property values. School quality is one of the first things homebuyers in Essex County research, and the district's $89.4 million budget for 2026-27 was adopted after absorbing a $1.5 million cut in state aid. School taxes are the largest share of most New Jersey property tax bills, so who sits on the board shapes both the quality of the schools and the size of the annual bill.
What to watch before November 3
Pay attention to candidate forums and campaign finance reports, which show which candidates are getting organized support. Two practical questions are worth asking any candidate: how they would approach the next municipal budget without another double-digit increase, and how they would balance redevelopment and housing supply with neighborhood concerns. For the school board, ask how the district plans to manage state aid cuts and keep programs intact.
The bottom line
Bloomfield's November 2026 election is a consequential one for homeowners because the council and school board control the two biggest items on your property tax bill and set the tone for the town's growth. The ballot itself is set in most wards by the June primary results, so the campaign season between now and November 3 is about candidates making their case on taxes, development, and schools. If you are weighing a move to Bloomfield, this race is a useful window into where the town is headed.
Sources
This story is based on the Patch guide to Bloomfield's 2026 election (September 24, 2026), Patch's June primary results coverage, and Montclair Local's listing of Essex County school board races (July 30, 2026).
Last verified: October 16, 2026. General election is November 3, 2026; early in-person voting runs October 24 through November 1 at the Watsessing Park Community Center (38 Conger St), and the mail-in ballot request deadline is October 27. Ward council seats and a contested three-seat school board race are on the ballot, with no Republican candidates filed in the ward races as of Patch's September 24, 2026 guide. The Watsessing corner closure and the sewer fee have become campaign flashpoints in Ward Three per Montclair Local's October 10 coverage.
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