At a special convention tonight, Democrats could not immediately select a winner between Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D-35) and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (D-35) to succeed Nellie Pou as the 35th District State Senator.

On a first ballot, Sumter received 78 votes and Wimberly received 78 votes.

This campaign collision course triggered when U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9) died in August, and the party turned to then-state Senator Pou as its candidate for Congress.  Pou narrowly won the seat in November, even as Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in Passaic County.

Wimberly and Sumter – both serving in the Assembly since 2012 – subsequently squared off for the seat Pou left behind, which serves North Haledon, Paterson, Haledon and Prospect Park.

Democratic committee members will vote again to try to break the tie.

Stay tuned…