where they live". The slate also advocated for promoting government accountability, fiscal transparency, attracting business, and fighting to protect the environment. Mercer Republicans United and their campaign became a watched primary for New Jersey Republicans across the state. Their race was known for creating a viable alternative option for Mercer Republicans and their slate was viewed with heavy notoriety. The race was also important to the 2021 New Jersey Gubernatorial Primary Election due to their placement on the Mercer County ballot line with gubernatorial candidate Phil Rizzo in column C. This placement disgruntled the members of Mercer Republicans United due to comments made by Rizzo that had Anti-Catholic undertones. Phil Rizzo, a Baptist pastor and GOP gubernatorial candidate, once said of Catholics: “I don’t know if these people have ever heard the Gospel. Not only are they in bondage to their sin, but they’re in bondage to religion.” Williams, LaRossa, Stillwell, and Hurtado are Roman Catholic, while Volodymyr Machevus is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic. Despite noting their opinions against Rizzo, their slate carried support for Phil Rizzo who ended up placing second in the primary ahead of well funded candidate Hirsh Singh and behind winner Jack Ciattarelli. He placed second in the Republican primary election, receiving 45.6% of the vote against Douglas Miles. Election Results This was the narrowest race of the year. The 15th district, based in Trenton, was heavily Democratic. During the campaign, Stockman, who had sponsored the tax increase, defended it and referred to Republican proposals to repeal it as "snake oil." Stockman, the chair of the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee, had also sponsored a bill to reform tax assessment which critics said would create a mass exodus from larger cities, including Trenton. LaRossa became the first Republican to represent Trenton since 1946, the year he was born. References 1946 births Living people Fairleigh Dickinson University alumni Republican Party New Jersey state senators Notre Dame High School (New Jersey) alumni People from Ewing Township, New Jersey Politicians from Trenton, New Jersey The College of New Jersey alumni