Both the Democratic and Republican organizations in Bergen County have intra-party fights to deal with before they can take each other on.                                                                                                   

The rift between Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero and State Sen. Loretta Weinberg has spilled over into county level races, with Weinberg’s organization, the Real Bergen Democrats, challenging the Bergen County Democratic Organization’s candidates.

Up for reelection on the BCDO line are Democratic Freeholders David Ganz and Bernadette McPherson, along with new freeholder Vernon Walton, who was tapped to serve the rest of Connie Wagner’s term after she went on to the Assembly. 

The freeholders face Weinberg-allied Carol Skiba, a former Hasbruck Heights councilwoman, and Carol Hoernlein, a Tenafly councilwoman. 

The BCDO hopes to unseat the one county-wide Republican who remains in office, County Clerk Kathleen Donovan, with Diane Testa.  But Testa will first have to face a primary challenge from Real Bergen Democrat Gail Frasco.

On the Republican end, Donovan has a clear path to the nomination, as does freeholder candidate Paul Duggan, who’s running to challenge Walton for his unexpired term.

The Republicans have also fielded Christopher Calabrese and Jeffrey C. Heller. 

But two Freeholder candidates allied with Murray Sabrin have thrown their hats in the ring, including his own wife, Florence.  Florence’s running mate will be Paul Mladjenovic, who teaches financial seminars.