SOMERVILLE – The day after Democrats partied late into the night in Bound Brook and all but elevated Clerk-elect Steve Peter to rock God status, undiminished and undaunted Somerset County Freeholder Mark Caliguire told InsiderNJ “yes, absolutely” he’s running for reelection next year.

A Republican from Montgomery, Caliguire suffered a heartbreaking loss in the November general election when he moved up with a come-backing former Assemblywoman Donna Simon and attempted to wrest a seat for the GOP.

Incumbent Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-16) and Assemblyman-elect Roy Freiman both won, however, as state Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) just managed to hang on to avoid total Republican annihilation in the 16th District.

Shaking off the loss and looking ahead, Caliguire said he looks forward to defending his seat along with fellow Republican incumbent Somerset County Freeholder Pat Scaglione.

The Democrats simultaneously want to use wins by Freiman of Hillsborough and in particular the clerk pickup by Peter to land more seats in 2018. Sources say Franklin Twp. Committeewoman Shanel Robinson – who came up short on the Peter ticket in an attempt to oust Freeholder Brian Levine and clothesline Freeholder-elect Brian Gallagher – looks ready for a return run next year.