Karrow wins Senate seat; calls for unity as Doherty vows to fight her in primary

CLINTON - Running as a homegrown conservative who knows the difference between hay and straw, Assemblywoman Marcia A. Karrow of Raritan Twp. prevailed here over Assemblyman Michael Doherty of Washington Twp. in the special 23rd District convention, 195 to 143 to votes. 

Despite what most observers conceded was a sizeable victory in this rural western legislative district and Karrow's from-the-podium call for unity in a gubernatorial election year, Doherty said he intends to fight on and face the senator-designate in June's Republican Party primary.

"I would hope he would abide by the voice of the people in the district," Karrow told reporters moments after her victory. "I won by 25%, and we need to have unity in the state. The Democrats are very well organized. We need to focus on the governor's race. We need to focus on defeating Jon Corzine."

But Doherty said he's dug in to claim the senate seat U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton) gave up last year when he won his 7th District Congressional race.

Although admittedly surprised by the results, Doherty took a grassroots view of the situation and said he likes his chances in a head-to-head with Karrow away from the halls of party power. 

"I've won primary after primary,"' the 45-year old patent attorney and eight-year veteran assemblyman told PolitickerNJ.com, noting his higher vote totals over Karrow in 2005 and 2007. "I'm the social conservative, and she's out of touch with local bonding issues. Wild horses couldn't prevent me from running in that primary."

The vote breakdown showed Karrow defeating Doherty in her home county by a margin of 125 to 54, according to GOP counsel Mark Sheridan, who presided over the convention. Karrow lost to Doherty in his home county of Warren, but chewed substantially into his base to come within just a 19-vote margin: 70 to 89. 

"This is the trust and confidence of my district that spoke today," said Senator-designate Karrow, 49, who in her nominating speech this afternoon spoke of her local roots and dedication to the rural character of the 23rd Legislative District.

"I'm a fiscally conservative legislator and I have continually tried to stop Trenton from scratching away at this district," added the MBA-holding fulltime legislator. "The people of this district are my partners. They know I passionately represent them. I'm a hometown girl."

Doherty's insistence on moving forward means he will forfeit his assembly seat to challenge Karrow for the top slot in the 23rd District. That creates two vacant assembly seats, and the announced candidates so far were here campaigning in the lead up to a special assembly election on Feb. 21.

The candidates so far include Hunterdon County Freeholder Matthew Holt, Hunterdon County Freeholder Erik Peterson, and Warren County Freeholder John DiMaio. Blomsbury Mayor Mark Peck - a staunch Doherty ally - said earlier this week that he is considering a run.

Neither Karrow nor Doherty would unfurl a list of endorsements.

"As a member of the county commttee, I'm really looking forward to all of them (the candidates) coming to my house," said Karrow, smiling at the recollection of her recent forays into county committee people's living rooms to win their support in advance of today's convention.

While Doherty strove in a stentorian nominating address to accentuate his socially conservative views and the need for Republicans to fight throughout New Jersey on what he terms the "great issues of the day," former Raritan Twp. Mayor Karrow in her own speech - very nearly close to tearful at times - punctuated her Hunterdon County roots and dedication to local, rural issues.

"I would have hoped it was based on who's prettiest," Karrow joked, "but it was in fact based on who worked the hardest in the district. My constituency is my passion."

Once sworn into office, Karrow will serve until Nov., 2009.

Whoever wins the primary in June - whether Karrow enjoying an edge now with organizational support or Doherty running as a GOP renegade - faces a November general election as a heavy favorite in this 2-1 Republican 23rd Legislative District. 

Several hours after the convention, Warren County Republican Chairman Doug Steinhardt – who had endorsed Doherty – said he was still digesting the results and hadn’t considered whether he would try to talk Doherty down from challenging Karrow in the name of party unity.

“Marcia should be entitled to enjoy the victory before anyone starts speculating or calculating about what happens next,” Steinhardt told PolitickerNJ.com.