Stephanie Lyon and Jeremy Godwin lead unofficial Morris Township Democratic primary results, setting up a new Township Committee race in November.
MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ – Morris Township’s Democratic primary appears to have produced a new party ticket for November, with Stephanie Lyon and Jeremy B. Godwin ahead of incumbent Deputy Mayor Siva Jonnada in unofficial results for two full-term Township Committee nominations.
Unofficial results posted by the Morris County Clerk show Lyon with 2,085 votes, Godwin with 1,648 votes, Jonnada with 703 votes and 12 write-in votes in the vote-for-two Democratic contest. That equals 4,448 votes recorded in the contest, while the county report listed 2,587 Democratic ballots cast in Morris Township.
The distinction matters because each voter could select up to two candidates. Using the recorded vote total, Lyon received about 46.9%, Godwin about 37.1% and Jonnada about 15.8%. The county report also listed 18,934 registered voters in Morris Township, including 7,403 registered Democrats, with Democratic primary turnout at 34.95%.
Godwin and Lyon declared victory Wednesday morning, according to Morristown Green, after waiting Tuesday night for unofficial numbers to settle. The two challengers are backed by the local Democratic organization, while Jonnada ran under the slogan “Dedicated Morris Township Leader,” according to the county candidate report.
The result does not immediately change township government. Morris Township is governed by a five-member Township Committee, whose members serve three-year terms, with the mayor chosen annually by the committee. The official township roster lists Jonnada and William “Bud” Ravitz with terms expiring in 2026, meaning the November election will determine who fills those two full-term seats starting next year.
The primary was the latest step in a broader Democratic realignment. In March, the Morris Township Democratic Committee endorsed Godwin, Lyon and newly appointed Committeewoman Samantha Rothman as its 2026 slate, bypassing both Jonnada and Ravitz. Rothman is running for the unexpired term of former Committeeman Mark Gyorfy, who resigned after taking a position in Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s administration.
Ravitz initially said he would run in November as an independent under a proposed “USA 2.0” banner after losing Democratic support. On Tuesday, he announced he had ended that independent campaign, saying victory would be difficult without backing from his former party colleagues.
The campaign focused on local government transparency, affordable housing, redevelopment, climate policy, pedestrian safety and cannabis regulation. During a League of Women Voters forum in May, Morristown Green reported that all three Democratic candidates agreed the township website should be easier to use, while differing on issues including affordable housing settlements, PILOT agreements, cannabis policy and how the township should communicate with residents.
Godwin is a former television reporter who works in corporate communications, while Lyon is an educator and licensed clinical psychologist affiliated with Rutgers, according to biographical information reported when the Democratic organization considered candidates for Gyorfy’s vacancy. Jonnada’s campaign site describes him as a longtime Morris Township resident, Morristown High School graduate, former New York Power Authority data analyst and program manager, and chair of the Whippany River Watershed Action Committee.
If the unofficial results hold, Lyon and Godwin will move on to face Republicans George Talarico and Joscelin Grizzetti for the two full three-year Township Committee terms. Rothman, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary for the unexpired term, is positioned to face Republican John Biehl in November.
The Morris County Clerk’s results remain unofficial. Once certified, the November ballot will determine whether the party-backed Democratic slate completes the local organization’s leadership shift, or whether Republicans gain seats on the Morris Township Committee.