Princeton resident Brian Hughes, five-term Mercer County Executive and son of former governor, dies at 68
Brian M. Hughes, a fixture of Mercer County politics for almost three decades and a member of one of New Jersey’s prominent political families, died Tuesday morning, June 10, at the age of 68.
Hughes, a Democrat, served as Mercer County Executive for 20 years, from 2004 to 2023. He was the son of Richard J. Hughes, the only person in New Jersey history to serve both as governor (1962–70) and chief justice of the state Supreme Court (1973–79).
He served five terms as county executive despite battling a chronic, painful condition called trigeminal neuralgia.
In 1992, Hughes was the Democratic nominee for Congress in New Jersey’s 4th District and lost to Chris Smith. Hughes was elected to the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1997 and again in 2000. In 2003, he ended 24 years of Republican control of the county executive’s office.
During his tenure leading Mercer County, Hughes focused on long-term infrastructure development, social service reform, and open space preservation. Under his leadership, the county protected more than 5,000 acres of open space, approved the terminal replacement project at Trenton-Mercer Airport, and oversaw construction of the Mercer County Courthouse.
Tributes poured in Tuesday from former colleagues and state political leaders.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Brian M. Hughes, a compassionate leader and steadfast champion for the people of Mercer County,” Assembly members Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Anthony Verrelli said in a joint statement. “His legacy can be seen in every corner of Mercer County—in the programs he built, the institutions he strengthened, and the lives he touched.”
County Sheriff Jack Kemler called Hughes a “leader who truly exemplified a deep commitment to the people of Mercer County,” noting his longstanding support for public safety and law enforcement.
Dan Benson, who succeeded Hughes as county executive, described him as “a devoted public servant and a truly decent man,” adding that his “twenty years as county executive showed his passion for our county, from our parks, to our airport, to our services for our most vulnerable populations.”
U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman remembered Hughes as a “lifelong public servant” and “forward-looking leader.”
“Our families have known each other since our fathers worked together decades ago,” she said. “He always fought for the less fortunate and was a leader in Mercer County.”
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin called Hughes “a kind and steady leader whose genuine care for the people of Mercer County spanned two decades.”
In a joint statement, Sen. Linda R. Greenstein and Assembly members Wayne DeAngelo and Tennille R. McCoy said Hughes led “with integrity, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to the people he served.” His leadership, they said, “modernized services, expanded access to open space, and strengthened infrastructure that improved everyday life for thousands of residents.”
Andrew Koontz, a former Princeton councilman and county commissioner, knew Hughes before he was an elected leader, back when Hughes was an advisor to Reed Gusciora for his first successful legislative campaign in 1995.
“Brian was a man of deep integrity who cared a lot about his community and Princeton. It was his home, a place he cared about,” Koontz said. “I appreciate what he was able to do and I will miss him deeply.”
Koontz said the strongest and most lasting legacy of Hughes in Mercer County will be his efforts to preserve open space and create and expand parks in the county. There would be no skate park without Hughes and no spray ground at Mary Moss Park, Koontz said.
“The difference between what was there before he took office and what was there after was like night and day,” Koontz said. “Everyone in the recreation community knows and appreciates his service and what he was able to accomplish.”
Hughes is survived by his wife, Pam, and his son, Sullivan. Funeral plans have not been announced yet.